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Thaksin considers Thailand return | Thaksin considers Thailand return |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was forced from power by a military coup more than a year ago, says he is considering returning home from exile. | Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was forced from power by a military coup more than a year ago, says he is considering returning home from exile. |
He was speaking to reporters in Hong Kong after the party he backed emerged from weekend general elections with the largest number of seats in parliament. | He was speaking to reporters in Hong Kong after the party he backed emerged from weekend general elections with the largest number of seats in parliament. |
Mr Thaksin said he wanted to prove himself innocent of corruption charges brought against him by the military. | Mr Thaksin said he wanted to prove himself innocent of corruption charges brought against him by the military. |
But he insisted that he did not want to make a return to politics. | But he insisted that he did not want to make a return to politics. |
He did however say he would be willing to act as a political adviser to the People Power Party (PPP) - made up of his supporters and political allies - if asked. | He did however say he would be willing to act as a political adviser to the People Power Party (PPP) - made up of his supporters and political allies - if asked. |
"If they want my opinion and ideas, then I will give it to them," Mr Thaksin said. | "If they want my opinion and ideas, then I will give it to them," Mr Thaksin said. |
"I really want to go back as a normal citizen. Enough is enough for politics," he added. | "I really want to go back as a normal citizen. Enough is enough for politics," he added. |
He told the news conference he would start "exploring options" for a return to Thailand as early as mid-February. | He told the news conference he would start "exploring options" for a return to Thailand as early as mid-February. |
Mr Thaksin, the owner of Manchester City football club, has resided in the UK since being forced from power. | Mr Thaksin, the owner of Manchester City football club, has resided in the UK since being forced from power. |
Bloodless coup | Bloodless coup |
According to the latest results, the PPP - which campaigned on a pledge to bring Mr Thaksin back into Thailand's political scene - has managed to secure 233 of the 480 seats in the lower house of parliament. | |
Its mail rival, the Democrat Party, won 165, followed by Chart Thai with 37. | |
POST-COUP TIMELINE September 2006: Coup overthrows Thaksin ShinawatraOctober 2006: Retired General Surayud Chulanont is appointed interim leaderMay 2007: Court bans Mr Thaksin from politics for five years, and dissolves his partyAugust 2007: Voters approve a new constitution December 2007: Election held Q&A: Thai electionsSend us your comments The PPP claims it has enough backing to form a coalition, even though it has not gained enough seats to rule outright. | |
The rival Democrat party wants to form its own coalition and keep the PPP out of power. | The rival Democrat party wants to form its own coalition and keep the PPP out of power. |
The election was the first since the 2006 bloodless coup which removed Mr Thaksin from power. | The election was the first since the 2006 bloodless coup which removed Mr Thaksin from power. |
Since the coup, the country has been ruled by a military-appointed interim administration. | Since the coup, the country has been ruled by a military-appointed interim administration. |
In May the courts banned Mr Thaksin from taking part in politics for five years and dissolved his party, Thai Rak Thai. | In May the courts banned Mr Thaksin from taking part in politics for five years and dissolved his party, Thai Rak Thai. |
But many of Thai Rak Thai's members decided to continue in politics, and formed the PPP. | But many of Thai Rak Thai's members decided to continue in politics, and formed the PPP. |
PPP leader Samak Sundaravej has openly said that he is a proxy for Mr Thaksin and will bring the former prime minister back to Thailand if he takes office. | PPP leader Samak Sundaravej has openly said that he is a proxy for Mr Thaksin and will bring the former prime minister back to Thailand if he takes office. |
Analysts say the success of the PPP shows that the public has rejected the coup and continues to support Mr Thaksin, particularly in rural areas. | Analysts say the success of the PPP shows that the public has rejected the coup and continues to support Mr Thaksin, particularly in rural areas. |
Questions remain over how the military will respond if the PPP takes office, especially if Mr Thaksin returns. | Questions remain over how the military will respond if the PPP takes office, especially if Mr Thaksin returns. |