TotallyOz Posted January 28, 2008 Posted January 28, 2008 BANGKOK — With the selection of Samak Sundaravej as prime minister on Monday, Thailand has completed a transition from military rule back to democracy. But analysts predict that the bumpy ride is not over for Thai politics: Mr. Samak’s tenure is likely to be tempestuous and his government fragile. A highly divisive and outspoken political veteran who is prone to profanity, Mr. Samak is disliked by the Thai press and intelligentsia and is deeply resented by civil rights groups for his support of deadly crackdowns on peaceful protesters in the 1970s and 1990s. He is a self-described proxy of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister who was ousted in the Sept. 2006 coup. As the leader of the People Power Party, or P.P.P., which won a plurality of votes in elections on Dec. 23, Mr. Samak will lead a coalition of parties that together control about 65 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives. In the vote for prime minister in Thailand’s Parliament on Monday, Mr. Samak beat the candidate from the rival Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjejava, by 310 votes to 163. Despite his victory, there is already talk that Mr. Samak could soon be replaced by someone more conciliatory. The Thai media has been running daily speculation on who might emerge as a compromise candidate for prime minister. “I think the Thaksin group will try to find a way to get rid of him over the next few months,” said Jon Ungpakorn, a former senator and democracy activist, referring to Mr. Samak. “He was an asset in the election. He will be a liability as prime minister.” The coalition came to power on a populist platform that was anti-elite, anti-military and geared toward a continuation of Mr. Thaksin’s programs targeting poverty reduction in rural areas. This platform fits with Mr. Samak’s earthy, irreverent, man-of-the-people image. But it is at odds with much of his political experience and background. Although Mr. Samak criticized the military and stuck up for democracy during the campaign, throughout his early years in politics he was best known for his extreme right-wing stands against Communists and his support for deadly crackdowns in 1976 and 1992 on students and pro-democracy campaigners who were demanding greater civil liberties. Despite his street-fighter style, Mr. Samak is a blue-blooded member of the Thai elite, a law graduate from one of the country’s most prestigious universities. The 2006 coup and its aftermath have sometimes been described as a battle between Mr. Thaksin and the Thai elite, including the Thai royal family. Mr. Samak, 72, has a foot in both camps. He has been allied to Mr. Thaksin since the former telecommunications tycoon came to power in 2001 but remained a stalwart royalist. His family has long-standing ties to members of the royal family. Mr. Samak’s uncle was a physician to King Vajiravudh, who reigned from 1910 to 1925. The king bestowed the family with its last name, Sundaravej. During his three decades in politics Mr. Samak has been deputy prime minister three times, minister of transportation twice, interior minister and deputy agriculture minister. Before entering politics in the 1970s he held a wide variety of jobs including tour guide in Bangkok, a salesman of John Deere tractors and two years as a public relations officer for the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok. He is under investigation for alleged corruption in the procurement of fire trucks while he was governor of Bangkok from 2000 to 2004, a case that may complicate his premiership. If convicted, he would be barred from office. After the vote in Parliament, Mr. Samak played down the significance of his victory, calling for reporters to respect his privacy, The Associated Press reported. “Nothing will change in my life,” Mr. Samak said. “There will be no celebration over my appointment.” Mr. Abhisit was conciliatory in defeat, saying it was now time to move forward with a new government in which his party would serve in the opposition. “It is time to start governing and to restore confidence,” The A.P. quoted Mr. Abhisit as saying. “It is also time to install honest people who can work within the system so that we don’t get back into the past.” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/world/as...nyt&emc=rss Also the Nation article: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/01/28...cs_30063660.php Parliament elect Samak as new prime minister People Power Party's leader Samak Sundaravej is elected as the 25 th prime minister of Thailand on Monday. Samak beat Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, nominated to be the candidate for the premiership by his party's former leader Banyat Bantatthan, with 310 to 163 in the voting in the Parliament. PPP's Secretary General Surapong Suebwonglee nominated Samak as the candidate.. The result of the voting showed that three MPs abstained including Samak and Abhisit and one was absent. The roll call voting was held after MPs disputed for 2 hours and 40 minutes as to whether each candidate for the prime minister, should be allowed to address their policies. After this, House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat will propose Samak for Royal endorsement. Samak then will form the his government. Quote
