Scholar weighs in on Thaksin returnScholar weighs in on Thaksin return

An academic believes that fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand Tuesday morning as part of a move to convince senators to back Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate during the vote in parliament Tuesday afternoon.

Thanaporn Sriyankul, director of the Institute of Politics and Policy Analysis, said Thaksin will return home on Tuesday now that he feels confident Pheu Thai will succeed in forming a government.

Thaksin, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, is widely believed to be Pheu Thai’s de facto leader.

Mr Thanaporn said that Thaksin will have to go to jail and serve time as a “political hostage” to assure pro-military parties — the United Thai…