Thaksin heads back to Dubai as his political era fades Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is preparing to return to Dubai, the city that sheltered him during 15 years of self-imposed exile, after a royal pardon erased the remainder of his prison sentence. The move closes a dramatic chapter in one of Southeast Asia’s most turbulent political sagas. But it also highlights a stark reality: the man who once dominated Thai politics is returning to Dubai with far less influence than he wielded before. Royal Pardon Clears the Way The pardon, granted by King Maha Vajiralongkorn as part of a clemency programme marking Queen Suthida’s birthday, removed the final legal restrictions on Thaksin’s freedom. The 76-year-old is expected to leave Thailand once authorities complete the paperwork ending his sentence and remove the electronic monitoring device he has worn since being released on parole. The trip will be his first overseas journey without legal constraints since his return to Thailand in 2023. From Exile Kingmaker to Political Bystander Dubai served as Thaksin’s headquarters after he fled Thailand in 2008 following his ouster in a military coup and subsequent corruption convictions. Even from abroad, he remained a towering force in Thai politics, helping allied parties win election after election. Yet the landscape has shifted dramatically. His political machine, once seemingly unstoppable, has suffered major setbacks, while rivals have consolidated power. A New Order Takes Hold Thailand is now dominated by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, which emerged strongly from February’s election. Meanwhile, Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party has been reduced to a junior coalition partner after recording its weakest performance in decades. The decline has raised questions about whether the Shinawatra political brand can continue to shape the country’s future. Unfinished Battles Remain Despite his freedom, Thaksin’s legal and political challenges are far from over. Prosecutors are still appealing his acquittal in a royal defamation case, while Pheu Thai faces growing pressure to cultivate a new generation of leaders. Analysts believe Thaksin will continue to exert influence behind the scenes, but the era in which he dictated Thailand’s political direction appears to be drawing to a close. For a man who once stood at the centre of Thai power, Dubai now looks less like a command post and more like a retreat. Thailand’s Thaksin to head to Dubai after royal pardon sets him free | The Straits Times
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