24-11-2024 (BANGKOK) Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra could be set for a dramatic return to Thailand in April 2024, according to recent statements by her brother, former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, sparking widespread discussion among political analysts about the feasibility of such a homecoming.
In a recent interview with Nikkei Asia in Udon Thani province, Thaksin suggested his sister’s return might coincide with the Songkran festival, marking a potential end to her six-year exile. Yingluck fled Thailand in 2017 before a court verdict that subsequently sentenced her to five years in prison over a controversial rice-pledging scheme that allegedly cost the state billions of baht.
Political observers suggest Yingluck could follow a similar path to her brother Thaksin, who recently received a royal pardon and was released on parole after serving just six months in hospital detention. Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, indicates that existing Department of Corrections regulations could facilitate a significantly reduced sentence for Yingluck.
The legal landscape appears increasingly favourable for Yingluck’s return. Several cases against her have been dismissed or terminated, including a major infrastructure project case and a National Security Council transfer case. However, her five-year prison sentence remains the primary obstacle.
While speculation about an amnesty bill has circulated, Pheu Thai list-MP Wisut Chainaroon suggests such legislation is unlikely to materialise by April. The ruling Pheu Thai Party is expected to present its own amnesty proposal, though party officials emphasise it would exclude lese majeste offences and require careful consideration of political cases.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong has indicated that any return would need to follow established legal procedures, beginning with court processes and adherence to Corrections Department regulations. The potential political impact of Yingluck’s return remains a subject of debate, particularly regarding its effect on Pheu Thai’s electoral prospects in future contests.
The possibility of her return comes as Thailand’s political landscape continues to evolve, with the Pheu Thai Party targeting 200 parliamentary seats in the next election, amid growing competition from other parties including the People’s Party and Bhumjaithai Party.
