Thailand's first elected parliament since a coup 16 months ago has opened with allies of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed prime minister, back in charge.
The People Power Party (PPP) dominates the new body after winning 233 of 480 seats in last month's elections and forming a coalition with five smaller parties.
At the opening on Monday, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, representing 80-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, urged a return to stability and national unity.
"Parliament convening is a sign of the good beginning of democracy in our country," he told delegates in their white ceremonial uniforms.
"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."
The opening day is largely ceremonial, with the real work getting under way on Tuesday with the election of the speaker of the house.
On Friday, the parties will nominate and vote for Thailand's 25th prime minister, widely expected to be Samak Sundaravej, leader of the PPP.
Thaksin revival
The revival of Thaksin's political fortunes is a serious setback to the army generals, who had deposed him in September 2006.
Thaksin and 110 of his senior officials were banned from politics after the bloodless coup. His once-dominant Thai Rak Thai [Thais Love Thais] party was also disbanded.
However, he remains popular among the rural majority who benefited from his populist policies and voted heavily in favour of his allies in the election.
Sundaravej served as Thaksin's deputy in the mid-nineties and is accused of being a proxy for the former prime minister who is currently out of the country.
The PPP government is expected to welcome Thaksin back to Thailand from exile by April.
Surayud Chulanont, Thailand's caretaker prime minister and the man the military installed after the 2006 coup, told Al Jazeera that he hopes Sundaravej would lead the country to reconciliation.
"I always said that whoever gained the most votes had an absolute right to rule," he said.