After nearly 16 years in self-imposed exile, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand in August. He has been serving a six-month detention at the Police General Hospital, but was recently seen leaving the hospital and returning to his home in Bangkok. The Prime Minister has announced that Thaksin will be released on parole, but the details of this arrangement are not clear. Thaksin’s return to Thailand has fueled rumors of a backroom deal to reduce his time in jail, especially with his party’s return to power alongside the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party and United Thai Nation. Thaksin has been a major figure in Thai politics for over two decades, even after his convictions for abuse of power led to his self-imposed exile. His parole marks a period of reconciliation between his populist movement and the country’s conservative, royalist establishment, ending a rivalry that has consumed Thai politics for decades. Thaksin’s return to politics has often been met with controversy, as his populist platform appealed to rural Thais while he was also accused of human rights abuses. His return after nearly 16 years in exile marks a significant shift in Thai politics.