Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, foreground, with, from left, his son Phantongtae, his daughters Pinthongta and Paetongtarn, arrive at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.

Sakchai Lalit/AP

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Sakchai Lalit/AP

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, foreground, with, from left, his son Phantongtae, his daughters Pinthongta and Paetongtarn, arrive at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.

Sakchai Lalit/AP

Thailand’s self-exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand on Tuesday after greater than 15 years of self-imposed exile.

After his arrival, Thaksin was taken to the Supreme Court, the place he was sentenced to eight years in reference to three separate circumstances. It is unclear, nevertheless, how a lot time he’ll truly serve.

Thaksin’s return coincides with a vote in Parliament Tuesday on the formation of a brand new authorities his Pheu Thai social gathering appears to be like set to move. His return fueled hypothesis that his arrival is tied to the social gathering’s pursuit of energy.

Thaksin, 74, made billions by constructing a fortune within the telecommunications trade. He was first elected prime minister in 2001 by selling populist insurance policies, and was reelected in 2005.

Thaksin was deposed by the army in 2006 and has been residing in exile to keep away from going through prices of corruption and abuse of workplace he claims are politically motivated. He was convicted in absentia on a number of counts however has remained a key participant in Thai politics even in exile.

His sister Yingluck grew to become prime minister in 2011 earlier than her authorities, too, was eliminated by a army coup in 2014.