Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is testifying in court today to defend himself against royal defamation ("lese majeste") charges, a significant case for his political family. If convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

The prosecution's case stems from remarks Thaksin made to South Korean media a decade ago. A verdict is not expected for several weeks.

Thaksin's prosecution, coupled with the recent suspension of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, two weeks ago, is seen by analysts as a major setback for the Shinawatra dynasty. Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics probe into a leaked diplomatic phone call concerning a border clash with Cambodia, where she referred to former Cambodian leader Hun Sen as "uncle" and a Thai military commander as an "opponent." This incident has led to conservative backers abandoning Pheu Thai's coalition, leaving it with a slim parliamentary majority.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile. He was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on graft charges, later reduced to one year by a royal pardon. Despite this, some within the establishment still view him as a threat. Thaksin maintains his loyalty to the monarchy and expressed gratitude for the pardon.