Overview

• Thai judges cleared Thaksin Shinawatra of lèse‑majesté over comments published in 2015 by a South Korean outlet.
• Thaksin returned on Aug. 22, 2023, received a royal pardon that cut his eight‑year sentence to one year, and served about six months due to age and health.
• Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra remains suspended and testified at her impeachment hearing over a leaked June call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen during a border crisis triggered by a soldier’s death in May.
• Conservative senators accuse her of breaching ethical standards, and coalition partner Bhumjaithai faulted her deferential tone and her reference to a Thai general assigned to the border.
• The Constitutional Court set Aug. 29 for its ruling, as July fighting along the Thai‑Cambodian frontier left about 40 dead and displaced more than 300,000 people.