Thailand's opposition party has won a landslide victory in national elections, paving the way for the country to have its first female prime minister.Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the younger sister of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, is set to become leader, in what is seen as a victory for the red-shirted political movement.
Television footage showed Ms Yingluck, 44, swarmed by flashing cameras and journalists after exit polls indicated her Puea Thai (For Thais) party claimed a clear majority of the 500 seats in parliament.
With nearly all votes counted, her party won a projected 261 seats with current PM Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party taking 162, the Election Commission said.
Ms Yingluck, a business executive, said "I'll do my best and will not disappoint you," as she addressed supporters in Bangkok after received a phone call from her brother congratulating her.
"He told me that there is still much hard work ahead of us," she said.
Mr Abhisit conceded defeat, saying: "I would like to congratulate the Puea Thai Party for the right to form a government."
The results were a rebuke against the traditional establishment of generals, old-money families and royal advisers in Bangkok who loathed Mr Thaksin and backed Mr Abhisit.
About 180,000 police were deployed to protect polling stations from feared violence.
Last year, the red-shirt protesters clashed with the army.
And five years ago there was a military coup which dividedThailand and saw violent clashes on the streets.
It is hoped the election will end the country's long running political crisis - but some fear it might trigger a new era of instability.
"It is now a foregone conclusion that Puea Thai will lead the next government even by itself," political science professor Somjai Phagaphasvivat said.
"But I expect it to bring in small coalition partners which will not only inflate its already sizeable majority but also further weaken the opposition."
Observers are waiting to see when former prime minister Mr Thaksin will now return from exile.
"I want to go back to Thailand but I will wait for the right moment" Mr Thaksin told Reuters.
Mr Thaksin, a billionaire ousted in a 2006 coup and former owner of Manchester City football club, currently lives in Dubaito avoid jail for graft charges he said were politically motivated.
"People want change and they get it. It tells you that a majority of people still want most of things that the ex-prime minister had done for the country in the past," chief executive of Asia Plus securities Kongkiat Opaswongkarn said.
Professor Phagaphasvivat has warned that Thailand still has a rocky political road ahead.
"What we should watch is whether Puea Thai might exploit the overwhelming poll numbers, interpreting it as a public mandate for the party to bring Thaksin home quickly.
"If that is the case, it could aggravate political polarisation down the road," Professor Phagaphasvivat said.
"So the Thaksin amnesty issue will determine where Thai politics is heading. It is going to be a potentially big destabilising factor."
Television footage showed Ms Yingluck, 44, swarmed by flashing cameras and journalists after exit polls indicated her Puea Thai (For Thais) party claimed a clear majority of the 500 seats in parliament.
With nearly all votes counted, her party won a projected 261 seats with current PM Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party taking 162, the Election Commission said.
Ms Yingluck, a business executive, said "I'll do my best and will not disappoint you," as she addressed supporters in Bangkok after received a phone call from her brother congratulating her.
"He told me that there is still much hard work ahead of us," she said.
Mr Abhisit conceded defeat, saying: "I would like to congratulate the Puea Thai Party for the right to form a government."
The results were a rebuke against the traditional establishment of generals, old-money families and royal advisers in Bangkok who loathed Mr Thaksin and backed Mr Abhisit.
About 180,000 police were deployed to protect polling stations from feared violence.
Last year, the red-shirt protesters clashed with the army.
And five years ago there was a military coup which dividedThailand and saw violent clashes on the streets.
"It is now a foregone conclusion that Puea Thai will lead the next government even by itself," political science professor Somjai Phagaphasvivat said.
"But I expect it to bring in small coalition partners which will not only inflate its already sizeable majority but also further weaken the opposition."
Observers are waiting to see when former prime minister Mr Thaksin will now return from exile.
"I want to go back to Thailand but I will wait for the right moment" Mr Thaksin told Reuters.
Mr Thaksin, a billionaire ousted in a 2006 coup and former owner of Manchester City football club, currently lives in Dubaito avoid jail for graft charges he said were politically motivated.
"People want change and they get it. It tells you that a majority of people still want most of things that the ex-prime minister had done for the country in the past," chief executive of Asia Plus securities Kongkiat Opaswongkarn said.
Professor Phagaphasvivat has warned that Thailand still has a rocky political road ahead.
"What we should watch is whether Puea Thai might exploit the overwhelming poll numbers, interpreting it as a public mandate for the party to bring Thaksin home quickly.
"If that is the case, it could aggravate political polarisation down the road," Professor Phagaphasvivat said.
"So the Thaksin amnesty issue will determine where Thai politics is heading. It is going to be a potentially big destabilising factor."
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