Thaksin Shinawatra

**Thaksin Shinawatra** (born July 26, 1949) is a former Prime Minister of Thailand and founder of the Thai Rak Thai Party. He was exiled after a 2006 coup. He returned to Thailand in 2023. He was put in jail, but got parole in February 2024. However, he is in prison again (as of the second week of September 2025); He can get moved into house arrest [at any time]. He will maybe be set free, after less than six month in prison; Or he might serve six months; Or he might serve 12 months.

## Heritage and early life

Thaksin's great-grandfather, Seng Saekhu (Khu Chun Seng 丘春盛), was an ethnic Chinese Hakka immigrant from Fengshun, Guangdong, China. He arrived in Siam in the 1860s and settled in Chiang Mai in 1908. His oldest son, Chiang Saekhu, was born in Chanthaburi in 1890. He married a local named Saeng Samana. Chiang's oldest son, Sak, took the Thai last name _Shinawatra_ in 1938. He did this because of the country's pro-Central Thai movement. The rest of the family also got it.

Seng Saekhu made his fortune by tax farming. Chiang Saekhu/Shinawatra later founded Shinawatra Silks. Then, he moved into finance and construction. Thaksin's father, Loet, was born in Chiang Mai in 1919. He married Yindi Ramingwong. Yindi's father, Charoen Ramingwong (born: Wang Chuan Cheng), was a Chinese Hakka immigrant. He married Princess Chanthip na Chiangmai, a less important member of the Lanna (Chiang Mai) royalty.

In 1968, Loet Shinawatra entered politics and became an MP for Chiang Mai. Loet Shinawatra stopped politics in 1976. He opened a coffee shop and grew oranges and flowers in Chiang Mai's San Kamphaeng District. He also opened two cinemas, a gas station, and a car and motorcycle dealership. The Shinawatra family was one of the richest and most influential families in Chiang Mai when Thaksin was born.

## In the justice system

He has been at the Police General Hospital for most of his time in jail (except for "a few hours"). As of September 1, 2023, He has to stay in prison for one year.

In January 2024, the authorities told Thaksin that there was a warrant for him. It was for a crime (of Lese Majeste) that happened in May 2015. Thaksin Shinawatra was charged with royal defamation on June 14.

In July 2024, he asked for permission to leave the country; The authorities said "No".

## Education

- High School- Montfort college, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- University- Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School
- Master's Degree - Eastern Kentucky University, USA
- Doctor's Degree - Sam Houston State University, USA

## Family

Shinawatra's sister, former prime minister Yingluck, went into hiding in 2017. People think she left the country to get away from the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions' ruling in her rice-pledging trial.

His daughter is the 31st and current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Thaksin Shinawatra
- **office**: List of Prime Ministers of Thailand, 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand
- **native name**: ทักษิณ ชินวัตร
- **image**: Thaksin DOD 20050915 (crop).jpg
- **monarch**: Bhumibol Adulyadej
- **predecessor**: Chuan Leekpai
- **successor**: Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Leader of the 2006 _coup d'etat_)
- **signature**: ลายเซ็น ทักษิณ ชินวัตร ภาษาอังกฤษ.png
- **office2**: Prime Minister of Thailand#Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
- **primeminister2**: Banharn Silpa-archa
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
- **party**: Thai Rak Thai Party (1998–2006)
- **birth place**: San Kamphaeng District, San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- **nationality**: Thai
Montenegro, Montenegrin (2009–present)
- **otherparty**: Palang Dharma Party (1994–98)
- **spouse**: Potjaman Na Pombejra (1976–2008)
- **children**: Panthongtae Shinawatra
 Pintongtha Shinawatra
 Peathongtarn Shinawatra
- **residence**: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- **alma mater**: Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School
Royal Thai Police, Royal Police Cadet Academy
Eastern Kentucky University
Sam Houston State University (Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.)
- **profession**: Businessperson
Entrepreneur
Police Officer (1973–1987)
Politician
Visiting Professor
- **blank1**: Net worth
- **data1**: US$1.8 1000000000 (number), billion (October 2018)
- **honorific-suffix**: Order of Orange-Nassau, GCON Order of the Polar Star, GCPS
- **image size**: 220px
- **term start**: 9 February 2001
- **term end**: 19 September 2006
- **term start2**: 13 July 1995
- **term end2**: 8 November 1997
- **office3**: Ministry of Education (Thailand), Minister of Education
- **primeminister3**: himself
- **term start3**: 14 June 2001
- **term end3**: 9 October 2001
- **predecessor3**: Kasem Watanachai
- **successor3**: Suwit Khunkitti
- **office4**: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand), Minister of Foreign Affairs
- **primeminister4**: Chuan Leekpai
- **term start4**: 25 October 1994
- **term end4**: 10 February 1995
- **predecessor4**: Prasong Soonsiri
- **successor4**: Krasae Chanawongse
- **office5**: Special Economic Adviser of Cambodia
- **primeminister5**: Hun Sen
- **term start5**: 4 November 2009
- **term end5**: 23 August 2010
- **predecessor5**: _Position established_
- **successor5**: _Position abolished_
- **office6**: Thai Rak Thai Party, Leader of Thai Rak Thai Party
- **term start6**: 14 July 1998
- **term end6**: 2 October 2006
- **predecessor6**: Position established
- **successor6**: Chaturon Chaisang