 Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003. | |
| Premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra 9 February 2001 – 19 September 2006 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
|---|---|
Thaksin Shinawatra | |
| Cabinet | |
| Party | Thai Rak Thai |
| Election | 2001 2005 |
| Nominated by | House of Representatives |
| Appointed by | Monarch of Thailand |
| Seat | Government House |
 Seal of the prime minister | |
Thaksin Shinawatra was the 23rd prime minister of Thailand.
As prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra initiated many policies affecting the economy, public health, education, energy, drugs and international relations. He gained two landslide re-election victories.[1] He implemented substantial spending on rural programs, with over 30,000 villages receiving a total of B9.4 billion in FY2005 and the budgeted amount for FY2006 being raised to B19 billion,[2] and provided affordable health coverage to the people. Because of this, his main support base has been the rural Thai.[1]
His cabinet was packed with academics, former student leaders, and former leaders of the Palang Dharma Party, including Prommin Lertsuridej, Chaturon Chaisang, Prapat Panyachatraksa, Surapong Suebwonglee, Somkid Jatusripitak, Surakiart Sathirathai, and Sudarat Keyuraphan. Traditional leaders of regional coalitions also became members of his cabinet.
His government has been frequently charged with dictatorship, demagogy, corruption, conflicts of interest, human rights offences, acting undiplomatically, using legal loopholes, and hostility towards a free press. A controversial leader, he has been the target of numerous allegations of lèse majesté, treason, usurping religious and royal authority, selling assets to international investors, religious desecration, and "siding with the forces of darkness".[3][4]
- ^ a b Protesters Jam Bangkok, but Rural Thais Love the Leader. The New York Times, 6 March 2006
- ^ The World Bank, Thailand Economic Monitor, November 2005
- ^ The Star, Dreaded day dawns – despite lies and dark forces Archived 2008-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, 2 April 2006
- ^ The Nation, Vandal's dad distraught Archived 2012-01-20 at the Wayback Machine, 23 March 2006