Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006. He founded the Thai Rak Thai Party and was known for implementing policies that aimed to improve healthcare and reduce poverty. His leadership was marked by significant economic growth, but also by controversies regarding his administration's approach to human rights and media freedom. In 2006, Thaksin was ousted in a military coup while attending a United Nations meeting in New York. After the coup, he faced corruption charges and lived in exile for several years. Despite his controversial legacy, he remains a significant figure in Thai politics, influencing various political movements and parties, including the Pheu Thai Party.