Thaksin's imprisonment concludes an extended chapter in his political journey

Thaksin Shinawatra, a business magnate born in the Chiang Mai province on July 26, 1949, made a dramatic return to Thailand on August 22, 2023, after a long exile. The former Prime Minister, who was ousted by the army in 2006, found himself in the spotlight once again following his arrest upon arrival.

Thaksin launched his political career in 1998 with the establishment of Thai Rak Thai, a party that promised to lift rural villagers out of poverty during the Asian financial crisis. His charismatic leadership and business acumen led to a landslide victory in 2001, making him the first premier to serve a full term.

In 2005, Thaksin was re-elected in another landslide victory, thanks to his party's emphasis on rural development and populist policies. However, his tenure was marred by controversy, including a "war on drugs" that resulted in around 2,800 extrajudicial killings, according to Human Rights Watch.

Thaksin's decision to return to Thailand came after Pheu Thai, the party that evolved from Thai Rak Thai, made a coalition with military-backed parties, including the ex-army chief who ousted Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister, in 2014. Elections are expected to be called within four months, and Thaksin's party will seek to bring its supporters out once more.

Thaksin's return to Thailand was not without its challenges. He was sentenced to eight years in jail but was released on health grounds and had not served any jail time until his sentence was reduced to one year in February 2024. His assets were frozen in 2007, but he purchased the Manchester City football club and later sold it for a profit.

Thaksin regularly addressed supporters from exile in Dubai using the Clubhouse social media platform under the name "Tony Woodsome". His daughter, Paetongtarn, became the prime minister in 2022, but was dismissed by the Constitutional Court two weeks ago. Thaksin pledged repeatedly to return to Thailand despite being convicted on graft and abuse-of-power charges in his absence.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who led the Pheu Thai Party in Thailand in 2023, was removed from her position as Prime Minister by a Constitutional Court ruling after the party returned to power in 2023. Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai party became the new prime minister at the weekend, condemning Pheu Thai to opposition.

Thaksin's daughter insisted that her father remained a "spiritual leader" after his arrest, and it remains to be seen how his return will impact the political landscape of Thailand. The country is gearing up for another round of elections, and Thaksin's presence is sure to be a significant factor.