Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was cleared Friday of royal defamation charges, relieving one of the threats to his embattled dynasty, which has dominated Thai politics for two decades.
Thaksin鈥檚 family has long jousted with the nation鈥檚 pro-military, pro-monarchy elite, who view their populist movement as a threat to Thailand鈥檚 traditional social order.
Their tenure as a defining force in Thai politics has unfolded in a saga of coups, street protests and court cases as they have grappled for the kingdom鈥檚 levers of power.
The 76-year-old Thaksin had faced up to 15 years in prison under laws criminalising criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family, but was cleared after a trial that unfolded over two months.
鈥楾he court dismissed the charges against Thaksin, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient,鈥� his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree told reporters at Thailand鈥檚 Criminal Court in Bangkok.
But his dynasty remains on the ropes, with his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra currently suspended as prime minister and facing her own reckoning next week with a court decision due that could see her thrown out of office.
Thaksin left court ahead of his lawyer, smiling and telling the press his case had been 鈥榙ismissed鈥� without providing any further comment.
鈥楾he court has done its job properly, but I don鈥檛 think we can relax yet,鈥� said 66-year-old food vendor Kamol Orahanta, among around 150 Thaksin supporters gathered outside the court.
鈥淚 believe there are still some haters who will try to topple him by other means,鈥� he told AFP.
The case stemmed from decade-old remarks Thaksin made in South Korean media relating to the 2014 military coup that overthrew his sister Yingluck.
Even though he has been cleared, AFP is not able to report on the comments in detail because the lese-majeste law is so strict that doing so could in itself trigger criminal charges.
Years of tussle 鈥�
Thaksin鈥檚 acquittal gives him room to manoeuvre as Shinawatra heiress Paetongtarn鈥檚 position hangs in the balance, with a result in her case due next Friday.
鈥業 still believe that Thaksin Shinawatra will remain active in Thai politics, even if his daughter is removed,鈥� political analyst Yuttaporn Issarachai told AFP.
鈥榃hoever becomes prime minister, the real player behind the scenes is always going to be Thaksin.鈥�
Twice elected prime minister in the early 2000s, Thaksin fled Thailand and lived in self-imposed exile for 15 years after he was ousted in a military coup, finally returning to the kingdom in August 2023.
He landed in Bangkok on the same day his family鈥檚 Pheu Thai party took office at the head of a coalition government backed by their conservative former enemies, fuelling suspicions a backroom deal had been struck.
On arrival, Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on graft and abuse of power charges dating back to his time in office.
But instead of going to jail, he was whisked to a private room at a police hospital because of health problems.
Days later, the king cut his sentence to one year, and in February 2024, he was freed as part of an early release scheme for elderly prisoners.
His handling has led to another legal case, set to conclude on September 9, arguing that because he never served time in a jail cell, he was not eligible for early release.
Prosecutions for lese-majeste, known as 112 in Thailand for its section in the criminal code, have increased sharply since anti-government protests in 2020, some of which openly criticised the monarchy.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a group providing legal services in many of the cases, says that more than 280 people have been prosecuted under section 112 in the last five years.
The law says anyone who 鈥榙efames, insults or threatens鈥� the king, queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in prison.
Rights groups and critics say the law is now interpreted so broadly as to stifle dissent and legitimate debate.
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