By Xinhua
Bangkok : Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed Samak Sundaravej, leader of People Power Party (PPP), as the country’s new prime minister, PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said Tuesday.
The royal endorsement came after the House of Representatives (lower house of parliament) elected the former Bangkok governor by 310 to 163 votes Monday to lead the new government.
Kudep said that party members would congratulate Samak at his residence Tuesday afternoon.
During Monday’s voting, the votes for Samak came from the PPP MPs and fellow lawmakers from the other five smaller parties that had announced a coalition with the PPP to form a new government.
The 72-year-old Samak, an outspoken veteran politician, became Thailand’s 25th prime minister after the military top brass toppled the former elected government led by Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup Sep 19, 2006 and appointed an interim government led by retired general Surayud Chulanont.