Thaksin mulls return after allies win vote

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he would “explore options” in February about a return to Thailand but would not resume his career in politics.

“I really want to go back as a normal citizen. Enough is enough for politics,” Thaksin said at a news conference in Hong Kong. He was ousted last year in a bloodless coup.

However, he said he would be willing to act as a political advisor to the People’s Power Party -- made up of his supporters and political allies -- if asked. The PPP won Sunday’s national election on a campaign pledge to bring Thaksin back.

Thaksin was ousted Sept. 19, 2006. He was in New York during the military coup and has since lived in exile, mostly in London. He is legally barred from holding office, the courts dissolved his Thai Rak Thai Party, or Thais Love Thais, and several corruption-related charges against him are pending.