Shinawatra family

The Shinawatra family is a highly influential Thai family of Chinese (Hakka) origin. The family built its initial wealth through the silk trade before significantly expanding into the telecommunications sector during the late 20th century. Thaksin Shinawatra, a former police officer turned billionaire, transitioned into politics by founding the Thai Rak Thai Party. He served as Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, becoming the first leader in Thai history to complete a full term and win a consecutive re-election in 2005. His leadership was marked by policies that prioritized rural development and healthcare, which secured a massive and loyal voting base, though his methods also drew strong criticism from the urban middle class and the traditional political establishment in Bangkok.

The political reach of the family has remained a dominant force in Thailand, producing a total of four Thai prime ministers. Following Thaksin's removal in a 2006 military coup not long after the controversial general election earlier that year, his brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, held the office briefly in 2008 before a court ruling forced him to step down. In 2011, Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was elected as Thailand's first female prime minister, serving until she was removed by a court order and a subsequent 2014 military coup. The family's influence returned to the highest level of government in 2024 with the election of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's youngest daughter, although she was later suspended and removed from office in 2025 following the Cambodia–Thailand phone call leak controversy.