Thailand's parliament has elected right-winger Samak Sundaravej prime minister as the country returns to representative, civilian government after a bloodless September 2006 coup.
The 72-year-old former Bangkok governor has vowed to push for the return from exile of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, putting him on a collision course with the army and royalist elite accused of masterminding the coup.
Mr Samak, who is leading a six party coalition after his People Power Party narrowly missed an outright majority on its own, won approval from 310 of the 480 members of parliament.
There has been no reaction on the stock and currency markets, where Mr Samak's appointment had been widely expected since the PPP won 233 seats in the 23 December election that marked the end of the army-appointed interim government.
His appointment becomes formal after its endorsement by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, expected in the next few days.
Although most Thais are keen to see civilian rule after the incompetence of the post-coup government, fewer than half of the country's 65 million people are happy with Mr Samak in the top job, according to the latest opinion polls.
