Thailand’s political landscape was thrown into fresh turmoil this week as Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s former prime minister and arguably its most polarizing political figure, returned to Bangkok on Monday, September 8, 2025. His arrival comes just one day before a crucial Supreme Court hearing that could see him sent back to prison—or, perhaps, clear him of the latest round of legal uncertainty that has dogged his tumultuous career.
Thaksin’s return was anything but low-key. After a whirlwind journey that began with his unannounced departure from Thailand on Thursday, September 4, he was spotted stepping out of a private jet at Don Mueang Airport’s MJets terminal at around 2:30 p.m. on Monday. According to Reuters, a photograph captured a smiling Thaksin, now 76, as he exited the terminal. His motorcade of three vehicles departed the airport half an hour later, though it remained unclear which car he was actually in—a detail that only added to the intrigue surrounding his movements.
Thaksin’s travels over the previous few days had fueled rampant speculation in the Thai press and among political observers. Initially, he had announced that he was leaving for Singapore for a medical checkup, only to divert to Dubai due to a delay caused by Thai immigration and the closing time of Singapore’s Seletar Airport. As AP reported, Thaksin explained that his plane wouldn’t make it to Singapore before the airport’s 10 p.m. curfew. Dubai, where he has spent much of his 15 years in self-imposed exile, became his destination instead.
But it wasn’t just a health check that had the country buzzing. Thaksin’s sudden departure coincided with a dramatic shake-up in Thai politics: on Friday, September 5, the government led by the Pheu Thai party—his longtime political vehicle—fell after losing a parliamentary vote. While Thaksin was in Dubai, Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai party was elected as Thailand’s new prime minister, trouncing the Pheu Thai candidate in parliament. Anutin officially took office on Sunday, September 7, and, as AFP noted, pledged that his administration would let the law “take its course.”
Thaksin’s own legal troubles are far from resolved. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Position is scheduled to rule on Tuesday, September 9, on whether Thaksin properly served his sentence for corruption and abuse of power. The investigation, which began in April, has focused on whether the six months he spent in a VIP suite at Bangkok’s Police General Hospital in 2023 should count as time served. He was initially sentenced to eight years in prison for offenses committed during his 2001–2006 premiership, but was transferred to the hospital after only a few hours in jail, reportedly for medical reasons. The king later commuted his sentence to one year, and Thaksin was released on parole in February 2024 as part of an early release scheme for elderly prisoners.
This sequence of events, as France 24 and AP both pointed out, has led to widespread suspicion among the Thai public and political analysts alike. Many have questioned whether Thaksin received special treatment, with some suggesting the timing of his return in 2023 was linked to the formation of a new Pheu Thai government. The Supreme Court’s current probe is examining whether prison and medical officials acted within the law. If the court finds that the Corrections Department mishandled his case—and that Thaksin was complicit—he could face new charges and a possible return to prison.
Adding to the Shinawatra family’s woes, Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was removed from her post as prime minister just two weeks ago, after a court found her guilty of breaching ministerial ethics during a border dispute with Cambodia. This marked the sixth time a Shinawatra-backed prime minister has been ousted by either the military or the judiciary, according to Reuters. On the morning of her father’s return, Paetongtarn told reporters at Pheu Thai headquarters, “Let’s just wait and see, but he’s definitely coming back. I won’t be able to meet him today because I have afternoon engagements.”
Thaksin’s journey home was carefully orchestrated. His private jet, flight T7GTS, flew from Singapore to Bangkok after a brief stopover in Dubai and a return to Singapore. According to The Nation, strict checks were conducted on his travel documents due to his ongoing legal cases, especially the so-called “14th floor case,” which remains under judicial review. His previously suspended passports had been reinstated, enabling him to travel abroad, and his younger sister, Yaowapha Wongsawat, along with former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, were on hand at the airport to greet him.
For many Thais, Thaksin’s return and the legal drama surrounding him are a familiar story. After being ousted in a 2006 military coup while he was abroad, Thaksin briefly returned to Thailand in 2008, only to leave again ahead of a corruption verdict. He has consistently argued that the charges against him are politically motivated. Just last month, a criminal court acquitted him of royal defamation, a lese-majeste charge that could have resulted in a 15-year prison sentence.
The Shinawatra dynasty’s political influence, once seemingly unassailable, has suffered a series of blows in recent years. The Pheu Thai party’s ouster last week and the court-ordered removal of Paetongtarn have left the movement reeling. As AFP observed, the dynasty’s populist brand has long been seen as a challenge to Thailand’s pro-military, pro-royalty elite, who view it as a threat to the traditional social order. But with the Supreme Court’s ruling looming and the party’s political clout waning, many are questioning whether the Shinawatras can stage yet another comeback.
Meanwhile, the new government has signaled a more cautious approach. Anutin Charnvirakul, who formed a coalition to replace Pheu Thai, told reporters he had faced his own share of “legal bullying” in the past but was committed to letting the courts do their work. The coming days will test whether that promise holds—and whether Thaksin’s latest gamble will pay off or end in another chapter of exile or incarceration.
As the country waits for the Supreme Court’s decision, all eyes are on Thaksin. Will the court rule that his hospital stay counted as time served, or will he be forced to pay a new price for his political legacy? The answer could reshape not just his own fate, but the trajectory of Thai politics for years to come.