Parliament endorses Somchai as next Thai PM

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Parliament【国会】 endorses【支持】 Somchai【颂猜】 as next Thai PM
【Updated September 17, 2008 17:30:43】

Anti-government protestors say they will now focus on forcing Somchai Wongsawat from office. [AFP]


Thailand's ruling coalition【执政联盟】 has overwhelmingly【不可抵抗地】 endorsed a
controversial【有争议的】 choice as Prime Minister【首相；总理】.

Somchai Wongsawat is the brother-in-law【妹夫；姐夫】 of the disgraced【名誉尽丧的】
former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra【他信】.

South East Asia【东南亚地区】 correspondent【记者】 Karen Percy reports that Mr
Somchai is a former judge and legal bureaucrat【官员】.

But the 61-year-old is best known for being married to Mr Thaksin's sister.

Mr Somchai won today's special parliamentary vote with ease, despite concerns just yesterday from members from within his own People Power Party【人民力量党】.

He replaces Samak Sundaravej who was forced to step down【下台】 from office last
week when a court ruled【裁定】 that by accepting money to appear as a television
chef【厨师】, he had violated the constitution【宪法】.

The leaders of the ruling coalition had tried to re-elect Mr Samak last week, but internal
divisions scuttled【】 his return to power.

Mr Samak did not attend today's vote.

The government has faced months of street protests【抗议】 from opponents who say it is too close to former Mr Thaksin.

Mr Somchai says he will be judged by what he does, not who he knows.

He has vowed to bring unity【统一】 to the country which is sharply divided.

He will not take office【就职】 until he is endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a process that could take several days.

Anti-government protesters who have occupied the grounds of the prime minister's
offices for three weeks have already vowed【发誓；扬言】 to continue their rally【示威游行；抗议】 to force Mr Somchai from power.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Supreme Court【最高法院】 has delayed its verdict【裁决】 in a
corruption case against ousted【被赶下台的】 prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his
wife.

It issued a new arrest warrant【拘捕令】 today, ordering them to appear before the
judges in Bangkok to hear their ruling【裁决】.

The former prime minister and his wife now live in London.