FORMER Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra expressed his desire to return to Thailand to be with his family after nearly two decades of living in exile.
Thaksin Shinawatra served as Prime Minister of Thailand for more than six years before he was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.
He was the first elected prime minister to have served a full term.
The Thai businessman and billionaire lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2008.
His younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra became the first female prime minister of Thailand in 2011 before a Constitutional Court order removed her from power in 2014.
In his social media post, the former prime minister asked for permission to return to Thailand and said he is determined to return home by July before his birthday to take care of his grandchildren.
Adding that it has been nearly 17 years since he parted from his family and he is already old.
“Once again, I would like to ask for permission to return to Thailand from whomever it may concern. I am determined to return home by July before my birthday to take care of my grandchildren. It has been nearly 17 years since I was parted from my family. I am already old,” said Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is a popular candidate for prime minister of Thailand and is facing a tough battle against the incumbent leader General Prayut Chan-ocha.
The self-exiled former prime minister will turn 74 years old in July.
