The 2005–2006 Thai political crisis was a period in which series of events occurred that ended
the political career of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. It resulted in the
overthrow of the Thai Rak Thai government in the Thailand coup, the exile of Thaksin, the
ascension to power of the Council for National Security led by Sonthi Boonratkalin, and the
establishment of the junta government led by Surayud Chulanont, a favorite of privy councillor
and senior statesman Prem Tinsulanonda.
The crisis and resulting coup and post-coup military government called into question issues of
media freedom, the role of the constitution in breaking a political deadlock, and the existence of
political stability in Thailand. It also reflected long-term and significant disparity between urban
and rural political orientation and abuses of power and conflict of interest of a democratically
elected leader that have long plagued the Thai political landscape. These issues contributed to the
crisis and culminated in the coup d'état of September 2006.