 served as Thailand's 23rd Prime Minister from 2001-2006. A telecommunications billionaire who founded the Shinawatra political dynasty, he was ousted in a 2006 military coup.){kind=link}
Thaksin Shinawatra (b. 1949). A Thai business executive and politician who served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. A telecommunications magnate turned political leader, Thaksin Shinawatra became one of the most polarizing figures in modern Thai politics, establishing a political dynasty that continues to influence the country’s governance through his children Yingluck Shinawatra and Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Born into a wealthy merchant family in Chiang Mai, Thaksin began his career in the Royal Thai Police, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring in 1987. He leveraged his police connections and business acumen to build a telecommunications empire, founding Advanced Info Service (AIS) in 1986 and Shinawatra Satellite in 1990. His business ventures made him one of Thailand‘s wealthiest individuals, earning billions through strategic investments in telecommunications and satellite technology.
Thaksin’s entry into politics came in the 1990s when he joined the Palang Dharma Party before founding the Thai Rak Thai Party in 1998. His populist platform, which included universal healthcare, village development funds, and debt moratoriums for farmers, resonated strongly with rural voters. This strategy proved successful when he won a landslide victory in the 2001 general election, becoming Thailand’s first CEO Prime Minister.
During his tenure, Thaksin implemented ambitious social and economic policies that transformed Thailand’s political landscape. His 30-baht healthcare scheme provided affordable medical care to millions of Thais, while his One Tambon One Product initiative promoted local economic development. However, his administration faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies, including harsh measures during the War on Drugs and the handling of the Southern Thailand insurgency.
Thaksin’s popularity among rural voters contrasted sharply with growing opposition from the urban middle class, traditional elite, and Thai military. Critics accused him of corruption, abuse of power, and undermining democratic institutions.
These tensions culminated in the 2006 Thai coup d’état, when military leaders led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin ousted Thaksin while he was attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Following the coup, Thaksin went into self-imposed exile, traveling between various countries including the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Montenegro, where he obtained citizenship.
In 2008, Thai courts convicted him in absentia on corruption charges related to a land purchase deal, sentencing him to two years in prison. Despite his exile, Thaksin remained active in Thai politics, supporting proxy parties and candidates aligned with his vision.
The Shinawatra political legacy continued through Thaksin’s sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who became Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014 before being removed in another military coup.
Most recently, his youngest daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected Prime Minister in 2024, making her the third member of the family to hold the office.
In August 2023, Thaksin returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile, coinciding with the Pheu Thai Party‘s formation of a new government. King Vajiralongkorn commuted his sentence, and he was released on parole in February 2024. His return marked a significant moment in Thai politics, as the Shinawatra family continues to shape the country’s political discourse.
Thaksin Shinawatra remains a transformative figure whose policies fundamentally altered Thailand’s social contract, particularly regarding healthcare and rural development. His influence extends beyond his direct political involvement, as his populist approach continues to define electoral politics in Thailand through successive generations of his family.
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Tags: Thailand, Prime Minister, telecommunications, coup d’état, political dynasty, exile, corruption, populism, Thai Rak Thai Party, Pheu Thai Party, Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Asian politics, business tycoon, Royal Thai Police
Time Magazine Cover: Yes – Thailand’s New Order (October 2, 2006) featuring the military coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra
Best Image Description: A formal portrait of Thaksin Shinawatra in a dark business suit against a neutral background, approximately 240 pixels in height and 600 pixels in width, capturing his authoritative presence as both a business leader and former Prime Minister of Thailand.