The newly elected House of Representatives (the lower house of the bicameral legislature) on Jan. 28 elected Samak Sundaravej, leader of the People Power Party (PPP), as the new prime minister by 310 votes to 163 votes for Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party (DP). King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Jan. 19 signed a formal royal approval of the appointment. [For legislative elections in December 2007 see p. 48310.]
Samak, who had openly campaigned as a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, announced on Jan. 19 that the PPP had recruited five parties to join it in a majority governing coalition with 315 seats in the 480-member House of Representatives. The coalition partners were the Chart Thai (CT—Thai Nation), Pua Phaendin (For the Motherland), Pracharaj ( RPP—Royal People Party), Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana ( TUNDP—Thais United National Development Party), and the Matchima Thipataya Party (NDP—Neutral Democratic Party). At the end of the month the ...