Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now facing intense scrutiny in the Thaksin Shinawatra royal defamation case, appeared in a Bangkok courtroom on Wednesday to testify in a closed-door royal defamation trial that could dramatically reshape the country’s political landscape. The 75-year-old political titan faces up to 15 years in prison under Thailand’s stringent lèse-majesté laws, accused of defaming the monarchy during an interview with South Korean media over a decade ago.
The trial marks a critical turning point for the Shinawatra political dynasty, once dominant in Thai politics. Legal pressure on Thaksin comes just weeks after his daughter, current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was suspended by the Constitutional Court amid an ethics investigation — intensifying scrutiny of the family’s role in government. Read more on BBC’s article on Thai Ex–PM Trial
Thaksin’s defense team, led by lawyer Winyat Chatmontri, confirmed he gave testimony throughout the day. “He remains calm and composed despite the seriousness of the charges,” Winyat told an international media. Around 50 of his supporters, dressed in red — the signature color of the Shinawatra political movement — gathered peacefully outside the courthouse.
“He is a very talented guy,” said Vaew Wilailak, a 79-year-old retired accountant at the scene. “But from past experience, bad people just want to get rid of him.”
Thaksin’s return to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile sparked nationwide interest. He was previously ousted in a 2006 military coup and fled corruption charges. Upon his return — coinciding with the Pheu Thai party’s coalition government formation — Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in prison for graft and abuse of power, later commuted to a single year by royal pardon.
Despite affirming his loyalty to the monarchy and thanking King Maha Vajiralongkorn for the pardon, critics within the Thai establishment still view Thaksin as a destabilizing force. “There is always someone within the establishment who sees him as a threat to Thai society,” political analyst Yuttaporn Issarachai noted.
The controversy intensified when his daughter, Paetongtarn, was suspended on July 1 following a leaked phone conversation in which she called Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen “uncle” and described a Thai military commander as an “opponent.” The diplomatic fallout led to key conservative allies abandoning the ruling coalition, leaving the government with a fragile majority and a caretaker prime minister at the helm.
With Thaksin’s trial ongoing and Paetongtarn’s future uncertain, the Shinawatra family’s political dominance hangs in the balance. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks, but the repercussions are already shaking the Thai political establishment.
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