Prime Minister Anutin views the visits by the three former Shinawatra prime ministers to neighboring countries as normal. He emphasized that Thaksin is free to travel anywhere, having had close ties with ASEAN leaders for a long time. He noted that photos with Yingluck and Paethongtarn are family matters.
10 July 2026 GMT+7 Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. He gave an interview regarding the appearance of photos. Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister, traveling to meet ASEAN leaders, saying, "He is free to go anywhere. Why do reporters question this?" When asked if the trips to Malaysia and Indonesia had any significance, Anutin said that from previous conversations, Thaksin mentioned he is close friends with the leaders. He recalled that when Thaksin returned to Thailand early on, before Prabowo Subianto became Indonesia's president, he flew to visit Thaksin in Bangkok.
"Today, wherever he goes to meet, he is a former leader and can meet anyone. He is traveling for personal reasons, not as a government representative."
When further asked about the photos appearing with Yingluck Shinawatra, and Paethongtarn Shinawatra, showing the three former Shinawatra prime ministers together, and whether this had any significance, Anutin said, "One is his sister, the other is his daughter. It’s a family matter. Reporters don’t need to be suspicious. None of us here are suspicious. Why should reporters be? He is free to go anywhere like any other person."
When reporters asked if he saw this travel as a political power play, Anutin responded, "You ask like this." When pressed if he did not see it politically, Anutin replied, "No, I don’t see it that way. All three are traveling as friends of the leaders of every country they visit."