A Double Blow to Thaksin Signals the End of His Political Dynasty
Thaksin Shinawatra speaks at the SPLASH - Soft Power Forum 2025 in Bangkok on 9 July 2025 | Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP
In an article for the Fulcrum, Termsak Chalermpalanupap asserts that recent events following Thaksin’s arrest mark the end of his luck and political influence over Thailand.
Thailand’s jailed former Prime Minister (PM) Thaksin Shinawatra, 76, has been unexpectedly dealt a double blow that threatens to dash his hope for an early release under parole and scuttle his plan to revive his embattled Pheu Thai (PT) Party to contest in the upcoming general election (GE), which is likely to be held early next year.
In the worst-case scenario, Thaksin’s political dynasty will come to an inglorious end.
First, the Attorney General (AG) Itthiporn Kaewthip revealed on 17 November morning his decision to appeal against Thaksin’s acquittal for a lèse-majesté charge.
Just a few hours later, the Thai Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin must pay about 17,600 million baht (US$543 million) of income tax and fines for late payment arising from a controversial sale in early 2006 to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings of 49 per cent of shares in his Shin Corp, then the largest mobile phone service corporation in Thailand.
Later that day, his lawyer decried on Facebook what he described as “a movement” with a “shameful” vendetta against the two-time Thai premier. Thaksin’s lawyer was surprised by the AG’s decision because an informal working group Itthiporn headed when he was a deputy attorney general had earlier recommended against appealing Thaksin’s acquittal.
