BANGKOK, Aug 22 — Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Thailand on Tuesday after 15 years in self-exile.
His return coincides with Thailand’s bicameral vote for a new prime minister today, three months after the May 14 General Election.
A private jet carrying the 74-year-old Thaksin from Singapore’s Seletar Airport touched down at the private jet terminal of Don Muang International Airport shortly after 9 am (local time).
Accompanied by his son and daughters, including Paetongtarn, who is one of Pheu Thai Party’s three prime ministerial candidates, he laid flowers at the image of King Maha Vajiralongkorn outside the terminal building.
He briefly greeted his family members, supporters and media who were gathered outside the terminal building before going into the building again.
Thaksin is expected to be arrested by police and taken to the Supreme Court for a hearing later today.
Earlier, Thaksin’s supporters in red shirts gathered outside the private jet terminal of Don Muang International Airport to welcome him home, holding placards.
His supporters have been camping outside the terminal since Monday. Many of them had travelled from several provinces to the airport to greet the former prime minister.
Besides that, key figures and member of parliaments of the Pheu Thai Party were also at the terminal to greet Thaksin.
Earlier, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra shared images and videos on her Facebook of her sending off Thaksin boarding a jet.
“Finally, the day you (Thaksin) looking forward to has arrived.
“I wish you good luck on your trip back. Please stay healthy, brother,” she wrote on her Facebook.
Meanwhile, Judiciary Office spokesman Sorawis Limparangsi said the Supreme Court will issue a press statement on the case, including details of the court’s consideration of the case.
Thaksin, who served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, has been living in exile since 2008 spending most of his time in Dubai after his government was ousted in a military coup led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
He fled Thailand in August 2008 to avoid facing time in prison for several criminal cases. He faces up to 10 years’ jail for his convictions by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in three separate cases.
Pheu Thai Party, a party linked to Thaksin, has joined forces with two parties backed by the military in a bid to form the next government and end the pollical gridlock after the general election.
Pheu Thai Party, which came in second in the May 14 General Election with 141 seats, is leading an 11-party coalition, will be backing real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin to become the next prime minister in today’s parliamentary vote.
However, Srettha needs backing from the senators, as a prime minister nominee needs 376 votes in the 750-member bicameral Parliament to be elected and form a government.
