MADRID, 22 AUGUST (EUROPA PRESS) –

Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was jailed on Tuesday after appearing before the Supreme Court, which sentenced him to eight years in prison for corruption crimes upon his arrival in the country after spending 16 years in exile.

Thaksin had landed on a private jet taking him from Britain, where he has been since he was toppled in 2006 by the military junta after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and abuse of the monarchy, a revered institution. to date, extreme and reserved.

In March, two months before the general election, he gave an interview to Japan’s Kyodo news agency, in which he reaffirmed his intention to return to Thailand, whatever the election outcome and even if it meant a prison sentence. “I have spent 16 years in a big prison because I was prevented from seeing my family,” he said, referring to his exile in London.

The billionaire, who served as prime minister between 2001 and 2006, arrived the same day Parliament voted for Srettha Thavisin, the candidate to head the government of Pheu Thai, a party he founded himself, and with his daughter’s acronym. , Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was presented in the last election.

After this vote, Thailand could emerge from the political stalemate that has existed since May’s elections, whose winner, Pita Limjaroenrat, of the Progressive party, has not received enough support to be appointed prime minister, due to her decision. desire to change the constitution. Senators close to the old military junta want to avoid a possible review of the monarchy’s protections.