(Bangkok, 20th) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin, currently serving his sentence in a Bangkok prison, may be granted parole as early as May this year for having completed two-thirds of his sentence. This has fueled speculation that the highly influential political figure could make a return to politics.
According to a Bloomberg report, on Tuesday (20th), Thailand's Department of Corrections issued a statement saying that the 76-year-old Thaksin meets the basic requirements for early release. His parole application will be reviewed by a committee comprising judicial, correctional, and law enforcement officials.
The statement emphasized that, when reviewing parole applications for convicted inmates, the authorities act strictly in accordance with the law, ministerial regulations, relevant rules, guidelines, and human rights principles, without any discrimination or illegal conduct.
After ending his 15-year exile and returning to Thailand in August 2023, Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. However, on the day he entered prison, he was transferred to the police general hospital for treatment. He was subsequently granted a royal pardon from the King, reducing his sentence to one year. After spending six months in the hospital, he was approved for parole in February 2024, and never spent a night in prison during this period.
However, on September 9 last year, Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin's time in hospital could not be counted towards his sentence, sentencing him to serve another full year. Thaksin is currently serving his sentence in Bangkok's Klong Prem prison.
The Thaksin family wields significant influence in Thai politics, with four family members having served as prime minister to date. Currently, his nephew and Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn, is actively campaigning for the upcoming general election on February 8, in a bid to help the Pheu Thai Party return to power.
The 46-year-old Paetongtarn is the son of former Prime Minister Somchai and Thaksin's sister Yaowapa, and currently serves as an associate professor in a university biomedical engineering department. His political moves are also closely watched by the public.