Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman, politician, and former police officer who served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until his removal in a military coup in 2006. His tenure was marked by populist economic policies, a controversial war on drugs, and a violent insurgency in southern Thailand, which polarized the nation and entrenched a deep political divide between his supporters, known as the "Red Shirts", and his opponents, the "Yellow Shirts". After being convicted of corruption in absentia, he lived in self-exile for over 15 years before returning to Thailand in 2023, where he remains a dominant and contentious figure in the country's politics.

Early life and education

Born in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai province, into a prominent Sino-Thai business family, he attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School before graduating from the Royal Police Cadet Academy in 1973. He subsequently earned a scholarship from the Royal Thai Police to study in the United States, where he received a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University, a master's from Sam Houston State University, and a doctorate in criminal justice from the University of North Texas. His early career was spent as a police officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before resigning to pursue business ventures.

Business career

After leaving the Royal Thai Police, he founded Shin Corporation, which grew into a massive telecommunications and media conglomerate. Key subsidiaries included the mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service and the satellite company Shin Satellite (later Thaicom). His business acumen made him one of the wealthiest individuals in Thailand, but the 1997 Asian financial crisis significantly impacted his holdings. The controversial 2006 sale of his family's stake in Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings, a Singaporean state-owned company, for a tax-free sum of 73 billion baht, became a major catalyst for political protests and legal actions against him.

Political career and premiership

Entering politics with the Palang Dharma Party, he served as Deputy Prime Minister under premiers Banharn Silpa-archa and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. In 1998, he founded the Thai Rak Thai Party, which won a landslide victory in the 2001 general election. His government implemented populist policies like the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme and a village fund microcredit program, which greatly increased his popularity in rural areas. His administration also faced severe criticism for its human rights record during the war on drugs and for handling conflicts such as the South Thailand insurgency and unrest in Tak Bai district.

Legal issues and exile

Ousted by the military coup led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, he was later convicted in absentia by the Supreme Court of Thailand for abuse of power and conflict of interest in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case. Facing multiple other charges from the Attorney General of Thailand and investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, he fled Thailand in 2008, living primarily in Dubai and London. During his exile, he remained politically active, advising governments led by his allies, including his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Political legacy and influence

His legacy is profoundly polarizing, creating a lasting schism in Thai politics between the largely rural and urban poor pro-Thaksin movement and the royalist, military-aligned, and urban elite establishment. The political parties he founded or inspired, including Thai Rak Thai, its successor People's Power Party, and the Pheu Thai Party, have won every election from 2001 to 2023. His return to Thailand in August 2023, coinciding with Pheu Thai Party forming a government with former military rivals, underscored his enduring influence. His family, including his daughter Peathongtarn Shinawatra, continues to play a leading role in the Pheu Thai Party, ensuring the Shinawatra political dynasty remains a central force.

Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:Prime Ministers of Thailand Category:Thai businesspeople Category:Thai exiles