Thailand Former PM Thaksin Acquitted Lese-Majeste Charges

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was acquitted of lese-majeste charges by a Bangkok court, which found the evidence against him insufficient. The charges originated from a 2015 interview he gave while in self-imposed exile, where he made remarks relating to the 2014 military coup that ousted his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, though the court ruled these did not constitute royal defamation under the strict lese-majeste law. Despite the acquittal, the Shinawatra political dynasty remains vulnerable, as Thaksin's daughter, current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, faces a potentially career-ending court decision soon. Thaksin, though retired officially, is believed to continue influencing Thailand’s politics as the power behind the Pheu Thai party amid tensions with the pro-monarchy, pro-military elite. The lese-majeste law continues to be a highly sensitive and controversial issue, limiting public discussion on the case details. Thaksin’s return to Thailand in 2023 coincided with his party's coalition government formation, amid suspicions of political deals, but he was immediately sentenced in absentia on unrelated graft charges, which he has yet to serve.