22-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Crowds of supporters gathered at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport on Tuesday in anticipation of the return of Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been in exile for over 15 years.
Thaksin was scheduled to arrive at 9 am local time, a moment his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, announced over the weekend.
Thaksin has long expressed his desire to return to Thailand and breathe the same air as his fellow citizens. He has frequently set dates for his return, only to postpone. However, this time, his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who was also ousted from office and is in exile, posted pictures online of Thaksin on a plane, declaring that “the day I’ve been waiting for has arrived.”
Thaksin’s return coincides with a crucial parliamentary vote to determine whether Srettha Thavisin, a candidate nominated by the Pheu Thai party associated with Thaksin, can assume the role of prime minister. If Srettha is successful, it could resolve three months of political deadlock.
Pheu Thai formed a controversial coalition with its traditional adversaries, the military-aligned parties, to garner enough support for Srettha’s prime ministership. This decision has divided Thaksin’s supporters, with many feeling that the party has abandoned its democratic principles.
As supporters began gathering at the airport, dressed in red and bearing banners reading “Welcome People’s Prime Minister” and “PM Thaksin, the PM that stays in the people’s hearts forever,” it was clear that Thaksin’s return had ignited strong emotions.
Sansuk Termsrisuk, 62, expressed her excitement ahead of her journey from her home in Nakhon Ratchasima, saying, “This is the day I have been waiting for. When I talk about it, I feel like I want to cry.” She remembered a time when Thaksin was in power, and the economy was thriving, but now, with the deteriorating economy, making a living as a vendor had become challenging.
Thaksin, a former policeman who became a telecoms tycoon before entering politics, was initially elected prime minister in 2001. His policies, such as a universal healthcare scheme and a village fund program to stimulate economic activity in rural areas, improved the lives of many. However, he was strongly opposed by the military-royalist establishment, which viewed him as corrupt and accused him of exploiting the country for his own gain.
A series of coups and political turmoil followed, with deadly crackdowns on Thaksin’s supporters by the army in 2010. Pheu Thai’s recent coalition with the military-aligned parties has left many supporters disillusioned, as it contradicts the party’s campaign promises not to collaborate with the military to seize power.
Thaksin’s return is seen by some as part of the political deal, but others argue that the damage to the country makes it not worth the compromise. Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, has stated that his return is a personal decision and not related to Pheu Thai.
