Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently returned from exile and began serving an eight-year prison term, has requested a royal pardon, a senior member of the outgoing Cabinet said Thursday.
Fifteen years in absentia, two military coups and numerous corruption charges, and yet Thaksin Shinawatra and his family continue to be the most formidable force in Thai politics
A pro-military party affiliated with outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday it has agreed to join a coalition led by the populist Pheu Thai party in an attempt to form Thailand's next government after a three-month stalemate.