By Thai Newsroom Reporters
AT LAST, DEPOSED PRIME MINISTER Thaksin Shinawatra today (May 9) tweeted to say he is returning home from self-exile overseas within upcoming July.
That appeared to be the most clear-cut statement which Thaksin has made among his repeatedly proclaimed homecoming plans circulated on social media after he has spent nearly 17 years globetrotting and living abroad since he was deposed in the 2006 coup.
Thaksin posted on his Twitter page today to say he is coming back within July with purported intent to literally babysit his seventh grandchild, born to his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra earlier this month, as well as six other grandchildren.
Thaksin declined to pinpoint a date for his planned homecoming but he said he will make it ahead of July 26 which marks his 74th birthday.
Paetongtarn is competing against others for prime minister under the banners of the Pheu Thai where her father is widely viewed as party boss.
Running among a trio of Pheu Thai partisan contestants are real estate tycoon Settha Taweesin, known as personally close to Paetongtarn’s aunt/deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri besides Thaksin’s youngest daughter.
Thaksin’s planned return would likely take place after a coalition government has been set up following the May 14 general election with the Pheu Thai being more or less speculated to become its core.
The deposed premier had been earlier sentenced in his absentia by the Supreme Court to a combined 10 years in prison on separate charges of misconduct which he had allegedly perpetrated during his premiership about two decades ago.
Last March, Thaksin tweeted to afford to throw himself behind bars upon his planned return so he could finally babysit his grandchildren after he has spent his time in jail.
He had earlier said he would seek no assistance from the Pheu Thai rank and file or any others who might possibly push for legislation or even an executive decree to grant him a pardon over his court verdicts and that he would do everything on his own.
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Top and Front Page: Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Photos: Sanook.com
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