Yingluck Shinawatra to return to Thailand for legal sentencing without special privileges

Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is set to return to Thailand before the Songkran Festival in April 2025 and will undergo legal sentencing under standard corrections procedures. This confirmation was made on 23 November by Mr Worachai Hema, a former Pheu Thai Party MP and adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Yingluck, who fled Thailand in 2017 after failing to appear in court for her trial verdict on a rice subsidy scheme, faces a five-year prison sentence. Her return, according to Mr Worachai, is not intended to seek special privileges but to comply with the legal system. Mr Worachai’s comments followed a recent interview given by her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to foreign media. Thaksin mentioned that Yingluck’s return aligns with the need for national reconciliation. “I believe Yingluck has not been treated fairly. These legal cases emerged after the 2014 coup, with Article 44 granting coup-makers absolute authority. This power was used to confiscate her assets even before her criminal case was resolved,” Mr Worachai said. He described these actions as potential interference in judicial proceedings. Mr Worachai called for society to reflect on whether Yingluck was treated justly, adding that fair-minded individuals would agree that her treatment was unjust. He emphasised that Yingluck’s return is her legitimate right as a Thai citizen and is necessary for Thailand’s unity and progress.

Political implications and warnings

Addressing the political ramifications, Mr Worachai urged opposition groups to avoid using Yingluck’s return as a tool to attack the government or the Pheu Thai Party. “Do not escalate conflicts that could lead to national instability. Let the government focus on addressing justice and economic well-being,” he stated. Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile, has played a key role in paving the way for his sister’s return. His comeback was perceived as a strategic arrangement with the royalist establishment to maintain conservative influence in Thailand’s political landscape. Thaksin served a commuted sentence of six months in jail for corruption charges before being released on parole in February 2024. His return coincided with the rise of his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was sworn in as Thailand’s Prime Minister in August 2024. Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s first female prime minister, was ousted in 2014 following a military coup led by then-General Prayut Chan-o-cha. Her trial for dereliction of duty concerning a rice subsidy scheme culminated in her absence from court in 2017, after which she fled the country. Her rice subsidy programme, a flagship policy of her administration, faced criticism for incurring significant financial losses. In 2016, she was tried and found guilty of negligence in managing the scheme, leading to her sentencing in absentia. Yingluck’s anticipated return signals a broader push towards reconciliation in Thailand’s often polarised political climate. While it could foster unity, observers warn of potential backlash from opposition groups, who may view it as preferential treatment.