Agence France-Presse . Bangkok

Thailand's crown prince on Monday opened the country's first elected parliament since a coup 16 months ago, with allies of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra back in charge under the People Power Party.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, representing 80-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, urged a return to stability and national unity as he formally opened parliament in front of lawmakers wearing immaculate white ceremonial uniforms.

'Parliament convening is a sign of the good beginning of democracy in our country,' the prince said in a brief ceremony. 'I am confident that the members of this parliament ... see there are still some problems threatening our nation.

Your mission is very important – to restore stability and make the country unite, with stability and peace.' Thaksin's allies in the People Power Party dominate the body after winning 233 of 480 seats in last month's elections and forming a coalition with five smaller parties.

The opening day is largely ceremonial, with real work getting underway Tuesday with the election of the house speaker. On Friday, parties will nominate and vote for Thailand's 25th prime minister, widely expected to the PPP's bullish leader Samak Sundaravej.

One of the new government's first big tasks will be to restore confidence in an economy bashed by instability and a series of policy blunders by the previous, junta-appointed government. Jockeying is also underway for the top cabinet posts, with analysts and local press predicting battles between the coalition partners, which share 315 seats, and also with the military, which is keen to hold on to its influence.

'The government is comprised of many parties, which will bargain for the best ministries, and they will come up with different policies,' said Sukhum Chaleysub, an analyst from Bangkok's Rajabhat Suan Dusit university.

Much press speculation has focused on the defence ministry, with reports of a back-room deal reached between the new government and the junta to have former army chief General Prawit Wongsuwan at the helm.

Analysts have said the junta will also try to retain its influence by populating the Senate with allies. The nomination process for the Senate's 150 seats, nearly half of which are appointed, also began Monday. The local press has also touted Surapong Suebwonglee, a former government spokesman under Thaksin and one of his close confidants, as finance minister.

Surapong, now PPP secretary general, refused to confirm or deny whether he had been approached for the post, but told reporters that the finance role was of key importance.

'The talk of a cabinet line-up will be more serious after we know who will be the prime minister. All earlier news is speculation,' he said. 'All positions related to economics are important positions, which will solve the crisis and drive the country,' he added. The PPP has in recent weeks been tight-lipped about its policies, but ran on a platform almost identical to Thai Rak Thai, the party formed by Thaksin but dissolved by a junta-appointed tribunal after his ouster.

Thaksin, who has been living in self-imposed exile in England since his ouster, has said he plans to return to the kingdom by April, where he faces arrest over two corruption cases. '

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