Thailand's fugitive ex-PM Thaksin returns to jail from years in self-exile

BANGKOK — Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday set foot on home soil for the first time since 2008, returning from self-exile to a Bangkok jail just hours before his allies' attempt to form a government after weeks of political deadlock.

As he emerged from the airport wearing a black suit, red tie and yellow lapel pin bearing a royal insignia, Thaksin bowed to the crowd in a traditional"wai" greeting before kneeling to pay respects before a portrait of the king and queen. #ThaksinReturnsThailand was the top trending hashtag on the social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, with 347,000 users.

"Thank you everyone for the warmth to my father, he is very grateful," she posted on Instagram with pictures of Thaksin's"red shirt" supporters.The vaunted arrival of Thailand's most famous politician came as the lower house and military-appointed Senate convened ahead of a vote on prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin, a real estate mogul whom Pheu Thai thrust into politics just a few months ago.

His return has prompted widespread speculation that Pheu Thai's alliance with its old enemies in the military and the establishment is part of a behind-the-scenes deal to allow him to come back safely. On Monday, Mr Srettha said Pheu Thai had no choice but to partner with military parties that it had earlier vowed not to work with.

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