Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Released on Parole, Hundreds of Supporters Welcome Him
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released early today, with hundreds of supporters gathering outside the prison to welcome him. He had been serving a one-year sentence for corruption since September last year and will now be on parole for four months with an electronic monitoring device.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 10:18
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 10:31 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 05:18 (18h 46m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Bangkok, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released early today. The Thai Department of Corrections had previously stated that Thaksin met the conditions for early release due to his advanced age and having less than one year remaining on his sentence.
Reporters from Agence France-Presse in Bangkok reported that the 76-year-old telecommunications billionaire had been serving a one-year sentence for corruption since September last year. After his release, he will wear an electronic monitoring device during his four-month parole period.
Thaksin embraced his family outside the prison, where hundreds of supporters wearing his iconic red shirts gathered, some shouting "We love Thaksin."
For the past 20 years, Thaksin's political faction has been the main opponent of Thailand's pro-military and pro-royalist elite, who view Thaksin's populist approach as a threat to the traditional social order.
His Pheu Thai Party and its predecessors have been the most successful political parties in Thailand in the 21st century, with the Thaksin family producing four prime ministers and gaining widespread support in rural areas.
However, the Pheu Thai Party suffered its worst defeat in history in the general election in February this year, becoming the third-largest party, raising questions about the future of Thaksin's political machine.
Nevertheless, the Pheu Thai Party subsequently joined the ruling coalition of conservative Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leaving a glimmer of hope for Thaksin's comeback. (Compiled by: Qu Xiang-Ping) 1150511
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(Central News Agency, Bangkok, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released early today. The Thai Department of Corrections had previously stated that Thaksin met the conditions for early release due to his advanced age and having less than one year remaining on his sentence.
Reporters from Agence France-Presse in Bangkok reported that the 76-year-old telecommunications billionaire had been serving a one-year sentence for corruption since September last year. After his release, he will wear an electronic monitoring device during his four-month parole period.
Thaksin embraced his family outside the prison, where hundreds of supporters wearing his iconic red shirts gathered, some shouting "We love Thaksin."
For the past 20 years, Thaksin's political faction has been the main opponent of Thailand's pro-military and pro-royalist elite, who view Thaksin's populist approach as a threat to the traditional social order.
His Pheu Thai Party and its predecessors have been the most successful political parties in Thailand in the 21st century, with the Thaksin family producing four prime ministers and gaining widespread support in rural areas.
However, the Pheu Thai Party suffered its worst defeat in history in the general election in February this year, becoming the third-largest party, raising questions about the future of Thaksin's political machine.
Nevertheless, the Pheu Thai Party subsequently joined the ruling coalition of conservative Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leaving a glimmer of hope for Thaksin's comeback. (Compiled by: Qu Xiang-Ping) 1150511
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.