Thaksin Can Apply for Parole From May 2026

Thaksin Can Apply for Parole From May 2026

BANGKOK, Feb 24, 2026 — Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be eligible to apply for parole in May 2026 under regulations allowing inmates to seek early release after serving two-thirds of their sentence, Acting Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon Naowarat said on Tuesday.

Rutthaphon said the matter followed standard legal procedures and that he had consulted relevant authorities, including prison officials, the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Justice.

“The process is in accordance with existing regulations,” he said, adding that an application for parole can be submitted through normal channels once eligibility criteria are met.

Thaksin, a polarizing political figure in Thailand, returned to the country in 2023 after years in self-imposed exile abroad. He began serving his sentence shortly after his return.

His potential parole comes at a time of continued political sensitivity surrounding his influence in Thai politics.

Authorities did not provide further details on when a formal application would be filed.