Politics Thaksin Shinawatra's Perceived Privilege Rocks Thai Government

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Thaksin Shinawatra //File photo

 

Public support is waning over Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison bypass, rocking the government's foundation, reveals a new poll. The alleged favouritism shown to former PM Thaksin starkly questions the government's longevity, according to fresh data from the National Institute of Development Administration.

 

Surveying 1,310 individuals across multiple demographics, the poll captures brewing public sentiment between 3-5 June.

 

Of those polled, a compelling 29.62% foresee Thaksin's case heavily undermining governmental stability. A close 29.31% anticipate some impact, while 24.58% predict no fallout. Notably, 15.73% see a minor ripple, and a tiny fraction of 0.76% remain indifferent or unopinionated on the matter.

 

This drama ensues as Thaksin reappeared in Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, instantly seeing his eight-year prison term reduced to a mere year, courtesy of royal clemency. Nevertheless, Thaksin’s penitentiary stint was swiftly cut short; he instead enjoyed the comforts of a VIP hospital room, justified by age and health claims, before gaining parole by February 2024.

 

Tensions rise further with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division demanding an inquiry on 30 April into the correctness of Thaksin's jail term management. This pivotal hearing is set for 13 June, anticipated to shed light on these murky waters.

 

Besides shaking political trust, the saga extends its doubting hand towards the medical field. The Medical Council of Thailand brought disciplinary measures against three practitioners involved in Thaksin's care, with two seeing licence suspensions for their subpar professional conduct. Echoing these concerns, the poll shows 38.40% of respondents losing faith in the medical practice.

 

Conversely, 30.84% still hold trust in the medical community, whereas 15.95% have completely lost faith, leaving 14.20% with unwavering confidence and a minuscule 0.61% opting out of response.

 

This unfolding debacle casts a shadow on both political integrity and public confidence in healthcare standards in Thailand, drawing the gaze of an attentive and increasingly disillusioned populace.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-06-09

 

 

[blaze master]

Perceived ?

[freedomnow]

Looks like he is on his way out of this world ?

 

 

Quite a change in the face.

 

 

That, or it's the day after the night before with CHANG beer....

[pomchop]

Meantime mr red bull continues to be beyond apprehension by the courts, the government, the police, for a decade or so.  Obviously Taksin is not only one to receive "special" treatment.
" 

[Jim Blue]

Mafia ?

[JoePai]

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

Meantime mr red bull continues to be beyond apprehension by the courts, the government, the police, for a decade or so.  Obviously Taksin is not only one to receive "special" treatment.
" 

When you have been here for some time you will understand ALL the His-So rich receive "special" treatments

[JimHuaHin]

Time for Taksin to be retired, back to the Middle East, Gaza seems appropriate..

[ikke1959]

As long as the Thaksin clan is in Thailand, there will be problems.. I know in the beginning it seems they did a lot of good work for the people, however it was only to fill their own pockets.. After all the coups they have caused they still are busy with filling their pockets and stir unrest with special privileges, as money opens all doors, and because this family and the other rich ones are conservative they will never stop, unless  someone put an end to it

[hotchilli]

Thaksin is becoming a bit of a liability... Paetongtarn has to protect him, but in doing so is showing a corrupt system.

[soalbundy]

45 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thaksin is becoming a bit of a liability... Paetongtarn has to protect him, but in doing so is showing a corrupt system.

A corrupt system is THE SYSTEM. Thaksin was only using his god given right for a wealthy man in Thailand, it's just one case out of thousands but due to his political profile he is a legitimate target, no opposition worth its salt is going lo let an opportunity like this slip by, its all part of the game and no doubt Thaksin has anticipated the faux shock and outrage and has a suitable defense at hand.

[ChockyTheCat]

If that’s his latest picture he doesn’t look like he’ll be here much longer, if he wasn’t sick before he looks it now !

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

and no doubt Thaksin has anticipated the faux shock and outrage and has a suitable defense at hand.

 

[Deerculler]

It looks very much like US politics. money and corruption.

[redwood1]

If I was Tony.....I would get a conflict going with another country, like Cambodia as a diversion to take some of the heat off me.......O-Wait....

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

If I was Tony.....I would get a conflict going with another country, like Cambodia as a diversion to take some of the heat off me.......O-Wait....

Problem with that is that you are bringing in the military and allowing it to gear up

[ronnie50]

Funny how there's never a poll on whether people think the coup masterminds should be in prison - init.

[Bundooman]

11 hours ago, Deerculler said:

It looks very much like US politics. money and corruption.

I was thinking exactly the same - with particular focus on the current US embarrassment, not to mention the other squalids from various countries worldwide.

[NoshowJones]

14 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Funny how there's never a poll on whether people think the coup masterminds should be in prison - init.

I would rather see the coup masterminds in prison rather than Thaksin, Thaksin certainly is not innocent but the coup masterminds were much worse.