BANGKOK, Jan 28: Thai lawmakers elected Samak Sundaravej, an ally of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as the nation’s new prime minister on Monday, restoring civilian leadership after 16 months of military rule.

The election of Samak cements a stunning political turnaround for Thaksin, who was toppled by the military in a September, 2006, coup and has been living ever since in self-imposed exile.

Samak, a 72-year-old veteran politician in his own right, has promised to bring Thaksin back to Thailand despite the criminal corruption charges facing him in the courts.

He won 310 votes in the vote by members of parliament, defeating opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party who won 163 seats.

A charismatic yet deeply divisive figure, he will take office and form his cabinet only once King Bhumibol Adulyadej has endorsed him, a formality that could take a few days.

Samak said his cabinet would be ready by Feb 6, and vowed to install a high-calibre team to bolster the economy.

“The person who will become finance minister is capable, knowledgeable, and professional. He is a party insider, but will be acceptable” to others, Samak said, while declining to reveal any names.

After the vote Samak headed off to a popular fresh market to buy groceries, telling reporters that “there will be no celebration. I will continue with my normal life”.

Abhisit warned Samak’s government against complacency. “The government has no time for a honeymoon because there are problems that need solving. Restoring confidence in the country will improve the situation,” he added.

Royalist generals in the military who led the coup that ousted Thaksin had spared no effort in trying to crush his political machine.

Junta-appointed authorities barred him from politics, banned his political party, and froze around two billion dollars worth of his assets. The self-made billionaire has been living in Britain, where he bought Premiership football club Manchester City. But Thaksin, who remains widely popular in Thailand, tapped Samak to rally supporters through the People Power Party (PPP).

It duly swept to victory in December’s elections, falling just short of an absolute majority in parliament, and now leads a six-party coalition with two thirds of the lower house’s 480 seats.

Analysts say that in important ways Samak will remain beholden to Thaksin, whose political clout and pocketbook remain a powerful influence.

“On day to day matters, Samak will have some autonomy, based on his experience, his own stature. But on the overall direction, obviously Thaksin will be the determinant of the major direction of a Samak-led government,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Chulalongkorn University.

Samak, who overcame doubts about his record and his gruff manner by openly campaigning as Thaksin’s proxy, was elected to parliament in 1975.—AFP