Political situation in Thailand

Pheu Thais Srettha Thavisin. Wason Wanichakorn / AP 

The change of power in Thailand 

Thailand gets a new leader – political deadlock broken  

Thailand elects Srettha Thavisin as the country's new prime minister, breaking the political deadlock that has prevailed for several months, writes Reuters. Srettha Thavisin is a real estate mogul and represents the populist Pheu Thai party. 

During Tuesday afternoon local time, he was voted through as the new prime minister, with a large majority in both chambers of parliament.  

He will now lead the country in a coalition with ten other parties, of which two allies are the party's former military rivals. The party came second in the May election and took over the formation of the government after conservative members of the upper house blocked attempts by the progressive party Kao Klai to take over the prime minister's post.

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is greeted by supporters at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Wason Wanichakorn / AP  

Political situation in Thailand  

After 15 years in exile - Thailand's former leader returns  

Thailand's deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra landed in the capital Bangkok on Tuesday and was arrested shortly afterwards. He has lived in self-imposed exile for over 15 years after being convicted of corruption. That is written by Reuters. 

He was taken to the Supreme Court shortly after he landed and is now in custody. This is because he has previously been convicted of, among other things, corruption. 

Thaksin Shinawatra himself believes that the criminal suspicions are politically motivated, and has chosen to return to the country to see his children and grandchildren. 

"I want to ask for permission to live in Thailand and breathe the same air as my Thai sisters and brothers," he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.