As to why he was not returning a day earlier, Thaksin told BBC Thai that August 21 was his daughter Paetongtarn’s birthday and he did not want to dampen the celebratory spirit.
“That’s because I will have to go to jail,” he said, adding: “I am already ageing. I miss my grandchildren and want to stay with my family.”
When asked if he was confident of Pheu Thai PM candidate Srettha Thavisin winning enough votes to become Thailand’s next premier, Thaksin simply said: “Of course.”
Thaksin, 74, began his tenure as prime minister in February 2001 and served until September 2006, when he was ousted in a military coup. He has lived in self-imposed exile since fleeing Thailand in August 2008 to avoid criminal cases stemming from his time in power.
Over the past 15 years, Thaksin has announced plans to return to Thailand as many as 20 times, but they never…
