The problem, as we all knew, was that Thaksin’s government was as corrupt as the previous ones, or even more. Corruption under Thaksin, however, took a new form; it was no longer about bribes and commissions. Instead, it became institutionalized and in some cases legalized – the so-called policy corruption. He used his power to put in place policies that benefited his and his crony’s businesses.
It is important, also, to remember that the first Thaksin government was the first to stay for a full 4-year term. Thus, Thaksin’s rise saw a few changes in Thai politics: election campaign based on policies, stability of a one-party government, and a new form of corruption. Thaksin government also showed that the anti-corruption system put in place by the 1997 constitution was not good enough. Thaksin was able to intervene in some of these independent institutions, preventing them to function properly.