Phuket Island was the second province former PM Thaksin Shinawatra chose to visit after being freed on parole from three corruption charges in February.
Thaksin was seen strolling on the busy Bangla walking street in Patong Beach on Monday night, accompanied by Chart Pattana Kla Party chief Suwat Liptapanlop. Photos of his visit were published on two popular local Facebook pages: Phuket Info Center and Monsoongarbage Thailand.
One photo shows Thaksin receiving greetings from a man in the area. The Facebook pages reported that Thaksin’s visit aimed to boost tourism in Phuket, which has been internationally known as a paradise island.
Photo by Phuket Info Center FB
Thaksin was paroled from jail after claiming he was gravely ill; however, his appearance in Phuket and other venues after being freed suggested otherwise. His residence in Bangkok, Chan Song La, had hosted many senior figures, including incumbent Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Cambodia’s former PM Hun Sen.
He twice visited his hometown province of Chiang Mai, once a powerhouse of Pheu Thai, the party he founded, which now has his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, as leader. The party lost popularity in Chiang Mai to the Move Forward party in the general election last year, so his visit to the province is reported to be an attempt to regain votes.
His visit to Phuket is also believed to be Pheu Thai’s attempt to boost popularity among voters.
