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BANGKOK - Thais have begun voting in a general election that marks the return of democracy after last year's military coup but which is unlikely to heal Thailand's deep political divisions.
Some 45 million Thais are eligible to cast their ballots from now until 9pm NZT, but few expect the country's third election in two years will solve anything.
All opinion polls suggest a sizeable victory, but not an outright majority, for the People Power Party (PPP), a vehicle for supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a bloodless putsch 15 months ago.
The PPP, which has made Thaksin's return from self-exile in London its main priority, said on Friday he could be back in February if voters handed the party a majority in the 480-seat parliament.
But analysts say the army and the royalist establishment, which Thaksin supporters blame for the coup, are unlikely to allow the PPP to cobble together a government.
They are expected to push for a coalition led by the Democrats, the main opposition during Thaksin's five years in power.
Financial markets hope the return of an elected government will signal the end of a period of disappointing economic growth, likely to fall towards four per cent this year from 5.1 per cent in 2006 and the lowest rate in six years.
- REUTERS
