Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile, hours before a vote deciding the country’s next leader.

Conservative royalists have backed military coups and contentious court cases to weaken Thailand’s most successful elected leader.

The brash, politically ambitious telecoms tycoon is now back, presumably after striking a deal with the same men who ousted his party in 2014. His criminal cases, he claims, were politically motivated, and he has outstanding sentences of up to 10 years.

On a private jet from Dubai via Singapore, he landed in Bangkok at 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT). Hundreds of ecstatic supporters cheered, spoke, and sang as Thaksin finally lived up to the many promises he has made. Witnesses had travelled overnight from his party’s stronghold in north-eastern Thailand.

However, Mr Thaksin was unable to greet them. After paying his respects to a portrait of the king and queen, he emerged briefly from the airport terminal accompanied by his two daughters and son.

Upon receiving the 10-year prison sentence, he was taken to the Supreme Court and then to Bangkok Remand Prison. There is no expectation that he will remain in custody for a long time.

The 63-year-old Samniang Kongpolparn had been waiting outside the Don Mueang Airport since Monday evening for Mr Thaksin. Many of the supporters who gathered there had travelled from Surin province, the former stronghold of Mr Thaksin’s party.

“He is the best prime minister we’ve ever had. Even though I won’t be able to see him today, I still wanted to show him my support,” she said. We don’t want to be stuck with the senators if they fail to reconcile with the pro-military government.