Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced the postponement of his return from self-exile as Thailand grapples with a political impasse following the May general election, won by opponents of military-backed parties.
The 74-year-old billionaire, who had won two elections before being ousted in a 2006 military coup, expressed his desire to return home, but he faces several criminal charges that he believes are politically motivated.
Thaksin cited a medical appointment as the reason for the delay, after his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, revealed that he was scheduled to arrive on August 10. She is among the prime ministerial candidates for the Pheu Thai Party, which secured the second position in the election.
Since 2001, parties affiliated with Thaksin have been influential in Thai politics, but they have experienced setbacks, losing two prime ministers to military coups and one to a court ruling.
The return of Thaksin has the potential to further escalate the already tense political situation in the country.
Following the May election, Thailand found itself in a political deadlock when the military-dominated Senate blocked the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) from becoming the prime minister despite winning the most parliamentary seats.
The Pheu Thai Party has been working to form a government, nominating property tycoon Srettha Thavisin as its potential prime minister.
The House speaker has postponed the prime ministerial vote until after a constitutional court ruling on August 16.
Thaksin has resided in self-exile, primarily in Dubai, since 2008, often communicating with supporters on the Clubhouse social media platform using the alias Tony Woodsome.
During his time abroad, he was convicted in four criminal cases, with one now beyond the statute of limitations. The sentences for the remaining three cases total 10 years, and he is still under investigation in another case.
