After being ousted in a coup and spending much of the last year orchestrating a brilliant public relations campaign, Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to Thailand. His triumphant arrival is being seen as a victory for the former prime minister, who outlasted the generals who toppled him.

But Mr Thaksin still faces legal hurdles, and a new prime minister who may be less than willing to let him call the shots from behind the scenes. Norman Hermant reports from Bangkok.

Norman Hermant, Reporter: Thailand's newly elected Government had said it hoped Thaksin Shinawatra would return to a fairly low key reception. Not much chance of that from the deposed Prime Minister's dedicated supporters.

Siriwan Meefak, Thaksin Supporter: I've been waiting here since eight last night. I really miss him because he made our country prosper.

Thaksin Supporter: I was very sorry for him because he was bullied. He's a good man and I will do whatever I can to help him to become the prime minister again.

Norman Hermant: Finally the moment they've been waiting for. Seventeen months after being ousted in a coup, Thailand's former prime minister was back.

Hours earlier, as he prepared to fly from Hong Kong, he repeated a pledge he has made often during his self imposed exile. He is finished in the political arena.

Thaksin Shinawatra, Former Thai Prime Minister: I quit politics already. I quit politics already. So no more, no more prime minister.

Norman Hermant: He may claim he is out of politics, but he's certainly not short of powerful allies. Especially since the successor to his banned political party won elections and has now formed a new Government. That, says this analyst, explains the timing of his return.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Thammasat University: But I think he did that with the hope with the PPP, Peoples Power Party, which is the nominee of him, can win the election and if the Government change and then he can come back [to] Thailand more safely.

Norman Hermant: Safe, but by no means out of the woods. Thaksin's first stop was at Thailand's Supreme Court. His legal battles here are only just beginning.

Of all the allegations levelled at Thaksin during his time as prime minister and after he was ousted, the charges that stuck involved this piece of land near central Bangkok.

Thaksin faces an arrest warrant after he was found to have used his influence as Prime Minister to help his wife buy this land. He's also charged, along with his wife, with covering up his ownership in a company that was doing business while he was in office.

Within hours of his return, Thaksin had been granted bail on all charges against him.

Already there is speculation the former prime minister will become an official adviser to the new Government, news that may not be welcomed by the new Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej. He has made it clear he has no plans to play second fiddle even if his Cabinet is filled with Thaksin loyalists.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul: He has so many people. Actually this Government is, we can say that he can somehow dictate, not direct but he can dictate the Government but the problem is I don't think that Mr Samak would tolerate, if he is [a] puppet. I mean, Mr Samak will tolerate if he is independent, and quite clever.

Norman Hermant: Of course it's not a possible conflict within the Government that is the biggest question now, it's whether Thaksin's return could spark a repeat of 2006, when the military took to the streets and took power. The generals governed Thailand for nearly a year and half and the consensus is, they didn't do a very good job.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul: I don't think that this time the army will get so many followers again, like last time. This time the people have already seen that a coup d'état cannot solve the problem.

Norman Hermant: So after a military coup, a new constitution and a new Government, Thailand is almost back where it started, with Thaksin Shinawatra looming as large and as divisive as ever.