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BANGKOK : Somchai Wongsawat has been elected the new Thai prime minister, but his links to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra could hamper his efforts to get the Kingdom back on track.
"I am Somchai Wongsawat, member of parliament from the People's Power Party. I want to thank the speaker of parliament, and all the Members of Parliament who voted for me. Thanks for giving me your confidence to be the next prime minister. I will do my very best," said Somchai, the newly elected Thai prime minister.
But Mr Somchai, a former judge and education minister, is Thaksin's brother-in-law - a fact that the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) finds unacceptable.
The protesters, who have occupied the Government House for more than three weeks, have already made it clear.
"We all want to be rid of the Thaksin (Shinawatra) regime so it doesn't matter who the ruling party has nominated for prime minister, we can't accept him," said one Thai protester.
Bolstered by the full support of the People Power Party, temporarily in doubt when 73 PPP lawmakers initially refused to back him, Mr Somchai is now tasked with finding a way to solve the ongoing political turmoil.
"I think the important thing is for him to show exactly (the) changes that would be implemented, so we can lead the country out of the crisism," said opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Hopes are high that Mr Somchai might be the one to unify the nation.
He is very well regarded by the Thai political establishment, in contrast to the combative Mr Samak. But analysts said his strong connections to the Thaksin family will eclipse any attempt at political reconciliation.
And though he now holds the office of prime minister, he is technically without one, since the PAD is showing no signs of abandoning their occupation of the Government House. - CNA /ls
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