PUBLISHED : 6 Aug 2023 at 04:00
Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he was postponing his return from self-exile because he needs a medical checkup first.
Thaksin, a former telecoms tycoon, posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that he needs a medical check up and would delay his return, originally planned for Aug 10, by a couple of weeks.
“I want to postpone the return date to Thailand from [Aug 10] until not more than two weeks. I will inform the date and time again. A doctor called me to undergo health check-ups.”
Shortly after learning of Thaksin’s postponed return to Thailand for health reasons, political activist and former politician Chuvit Kamolvisit yesterday posted on his Facebook page, urging Thaksin to find a better excuse for the pushing back his return.
Mr Chuvit said in his opinion Thaksin announcement was more likely related to the likelihood of a more sympathetic Pheu Thai-led coalition government having assumed power by then.
The Pheu Thai Party came second in the May election after the Move Forward Party (MFP). However, after failing to secure enough support from senators to see leader Pita Limjaroenrat take the premiership, Pheu Thai took the lead in trying to form a government without the MFP.
Pheu Thai was expected to nominate candidate Srettha Thavisin in the second vote to select the new premier on Friday, but the vote was postponed, pending a Constitutional Court decision on Aug 16 on whether Mr Pita’s renomination in the second parliamentary vote was constitutional. The party subsequently postponed an announcement about the formation of a new government.
Meanwhile, Sen Seree Suwanpanont said the uncertainty of the political situation may have influenced Thaksin’s decision not to return to the country just yet.
On Mr Srettha, Sen Seree said the senators will check his eligibility and question his stance on controversial topics including the lese majeste law and allegations against him of tax dodging.
On Thaksin’s 74th birthday on July 26, his daughter Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, also a prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, announced on Instagram that her father, who is widely believed to be Pheu Thai’s de facto leader, was set to arrive at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10. The fugitive former PM has been living in self-imposed exile since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006.