Thailand’s Ex-PM Thaksin Faces Up to 15 Years in Jail Over Royal Defamation Charges

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has testified in a closed-door court trial in Bangkok, defending himself against royal defamation charges that could lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The charges stem from a decade-old interview he gave to South Korean media, which prosecutors argue violated Thailand’s strict lese-majeste laws. These laws criminalize any criticism of the royal family and are among the harshest in the world. The trial began earlier this month and is ongoing, with Thaksin expected to testify for at least three days. A verdict is not expected for several weeks.

The case is unfolding during a turbulent period for the Shinawatra family, as Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was recently suspended from her role as Prime Minister. Analysts view the dual setbacks as a significant blow to the political influence of the Shinawatra dynasty, which has dominated Thai politics for the past 25 years. Thaksin, a 75-year-old telecom tycoon, founded a populist political movement that has long challenged the traditional pro-royalist and pro-military elite.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile following a 2006 military coup that ousted him from power. On the same day of his return, the Pheu Thai Party—led by his family—took office as part of a coalition government, raising suspicions of a backroom political deal. Thaksin was immediately arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power, though the sentence was later reduced to one year through a royal pardon by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Thaksin has since publicly expressed his loyalty to the monarchy and gratitude to the king for the clemency.

His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, stated that Thaksin remained composed during the court proceedings. Around 50 supporters gathered outside the court, wearing red shirts representing his political movement and displaying his image. One elderly supporter described Thaksin as a talented leader who has been persistently targeted by his political enemies.

Meanwhile, Paetongtarn’s political future has been jeopardized following a scandal involving a leaked diplomatic phone call. The Constitutional Court suspended her pending an ethics investigation into her conduct during a conversation about a deadly border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops on May 28, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. The leaked call, in which she referred to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as “uncle” and called a Thai military commander an “opponent,” raised concerns about her diplomatic neutrality and sparked widespread political controversy.

According to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University, the incident escalated into a full-blown crisis, casting doubt on her integrity and leadership. The scandal caused major conservative allies to withdraw their support from Pheu Thai’s coalition, leaving the government with a fragile parliamentary majority and a caretaker prime minister at the helm.

Together, these legal and political developments mark a sharp decline in the Shinawatra family's influence and raise questions about the future of their populist movement in Thai politics.