Thai Parliament to vote on new PM as Thaksin departs for Dubai

The move followed last week’s Constitutional Court decision to oust his daughter and protégé, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, from the premiership over an ethics violation linked to a call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

According to the Associated Press, Thaksin told immigration authorities at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport he was initially flying to Singapore, but flight-tracking data later showed his plane diverted toward Dubai. In a post on X, the 76-year-old said delays meant he could not land in Singapore before the airport’s closing time and instead diverted to the United Arab Emirates, where he has long maintained a base.

Thaksin said he would return to Thailand to face court on Tuesday.

Anutin emerges as frontrunner

Political analysts said that Anutin appears to have outmaneuvered Thaksin’s party by striking a deal with the opposition. (AP photo)

Friday’s parliamentary session comes amid fierce competition between Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party and its former coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, led by Anutin Charnvirakul.

Reuters reported that Anutin has secured the support of 146 lawmakers from his party and allies, with the opposition People’s Party also pledging its 143 votes, giving him a clear path to surpassing the 247-seat majority threshold in the 492-member House.

Pheu Thai, meanwhile, nominated 77-year-old former attorney general Chaikasem Nitisiri, who vowed to dissolve parliament immediately if elected and call fresh polls. AP noted that both Anutin and Chaikasem were formally nominated on Friday under Thailand’s constitutional rules, which restrict eligibility to five candidates nominated in the 2023 general election.

Thaksin’s legal troubles

Thaksin’s abrupt departure has fueled speculation that he may be seeking to avoid a possible new prison term. He returned to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile to serve an eight-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power. He was transferred to a police hospital on his first night in custody, citing medical reasons, and was later released on parole after his sentence was commuted to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The Supreme Court is set to rule next week on whether Thaksin’s hospital stay counted as time served. If not, he could face further jail time.

Political analysts told Reuters that Anutin appears to have outmaneuvered Thaksin’s party by striking a deal with the opposition. “Pheu Thai’s tactics are like the final show,” said Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University. “I’m quite confident that Anutin will be elected as the next prime minister. Pheu Thai has completely closed the curtain.”

(With inputs from Reuters)