Thailand's for mer Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, left, hugs his daughter and newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra before the royal endorsement ceremony appointing Paetongtarn as Thailand's new prime minister at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Legal action appears imminent for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following allegations of his unlawful involvement in recent political activities while on parole.
Thaksin, who is often viewed as the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, allegedly hosted a secretive meeting at his home with coalition party leaders just hours after Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin was ousted as Prime Minister by the Constitutional Court. This gathering purportedly resulted in the nomination of Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as a prime ministerial candidate.
Thaksin, who was recently released on royal pardon along with 50,000 other convicts, is prohibited from engaging in political activities while on parole. Former Democrat MP Tepthai Senapong remarked that Thaksin had no legal authority to direct political meetings, hinting that legal action could be underway soon.
The Election Commission might probe into the clandestine session at Thaksin's Chan Song Lah residence, which involved key coalition members such as Anutin Charnvirakul of Bhumjaithai and Thammanat Prompao of Palang Pracharath.
Should the allegations hold, Thaksin faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. Additionally, political parties of the meeting attendees could face dissolution, and their executives may be banned from holding political positions for a decade.
Further controversy surrounds Thaksin's appearance at a royal edict reception yesterday, where he wore a white jacket typically reserved for political officials. Critics argue he was not entitled to don such attire due to his convict status, which, though technically mitigated by a royal pardon, still legally invalidates his claim to political office, reported Thai Newsroom.
Adding to his legal woes, Thaksin attended a Criminal Court hearing today regarding a lese-majesty lawsuit linked to comments he made about the 2006 coup that ousted him, during an interview in South Korea in 2015. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence ranging from three to 15 years.
The saga continues to unfold, potentially reshaping the Thai political landscape.
-- 2024-08-19
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