Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to become Thailand’s first female prime minister after her opposition party won an outright majority in parliamentary elections Sunday. Shinawatra is the sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, himself prime minister until 2006 when a military coup forced him into exile.

Since that time, Thailand has experienced some upheaval with violent protests and government crackdowns leaving dozens dead and threatening the nation’s status as a tourist mecca.

So far there’s little sign that Yingluck Shinawatra will be blocked from taking power. Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has conceded and the BBC reports that a top military leader has promised not to meddle.

Some reports suggest that Thaksin is the real power behind his sister, although the former prime minister doesn’t yet have plans to return to Thailand, where he faces corruption charges. — PZS

BBC:

Mr Thaksin, whose government was toppled in a military coup in 2006, said the military should also “be listening to what the people think”.

Asked whether he would now be returning to Thailand, the former prime minister said he was in “no hurry”.

“I want to see reconciliation really happen,” he said. “I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

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