Abhisit Vejjajiva vs Ricardo Martinelli

Abhisit Vejjajiva became Prime Minister of Thailand on December 15, 2008, after a parliamentary vote following the dissolution of the People Power Party. His rise to power occurred amid political turmoil and was supported by the military and the Democrat Party.

Abhisit's government faced massive protests by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (Red Shirts) from March to May 2010. The protests demanded new elections and ended with a military crackdown that resulted in over 90 deaths and widespread property damage in Bangkok.

Under pressure from protests and political instability, Abhisit dissolved the House of Representatives on May 9, 2011, and called for general elections. The elections were held in July 2011 and resulted in a decisive victory for the Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck Shinawatra.

Ricardo Martinelli, a wealthy supermarket magnate, won the 2009 presidential election as the candidate of the Alliance for Change coalition. His campaign focused on anti-corruption and economic development, and he won with a landslide majority.

Martinelli's presidency oversaw rapid economic growth, major infrastructure projects (including the Panama Metro), and a controversial crackdown on crime. His administration was marked by allegations of authoritarianism, corruption, and nepotism, but also significant public works.

After leaving office, Martinelli faced multiple corruption investigations. In 2015, he fled to the United States but was later extradited to Panama in 2018. He was convicted of money laundering in 2019 and sentenced to prison, though he maintained his innocence.