Abhisit Vejjajiva Elected New Prime Minister Of Thailand

[Who, me ?]

Is it the beginning of a new era ? Anyway, hopefully he will do well....

[jbowman1993]

Anyone care to speculate as to how the PAD will react? Will this be enough to keep them from causing any more disruptions?

I wouldn't be concerned with PAD reaction, but rather with the Red Team's. I'm afraid they are capable as yellow one, to cause havoc and disruptions.

As I hope society in general will do - Perhaps its time for TV red shirts and yellow shirts to put the shirts back in the closet for a while, and try to work for the good of the country. A new party in power with a new elected PM deserve time to announce their policies and implement them.

[mc2]

good luck abhisit, you have big shoes to fill and the reds are hot on your tail

[Tonyzill]

Why is everyone writing Thaksin off!! Do you think he is going to just lie down and go away. Not in a million years. I am not up to speed on who the new PM is and how well respected he is however I pray that he is middle of the road enough for both the Red & Yellows. He will be walking a very fine line.

I hope the Thai people give him a chance before causing any further disruptions.

[samgrowth]

A new chapter in Thai history.

Although I support Toxin, I wish the new PM well, and congradulate on his win.

Just hope that the new govt don't raise tax.

[RenzoInOz]

All power to Abhisit. This is a great advance for Thailand.

However, the big concern is that the margin might look good, but it is indeed slim - 37 votes means just 19 MPs need to change camps (again) to defeat him. This is not a comfortable margin in a Parliament renowned for disloyalty and party-hopping.

As for the red shirts - or yellow shirts - the government can only remain in power so long as those who are responsible for upholding the law of the land do their job. Initial commentary above - "the police are standing idly by" - suggests they're not.

[bubba]

Why is everyone writing Thaksin off!! Do you think he is going to just lie down and go away. Not in a million years. I am not up to speed on who the new PM is and how well respected he is however I pray that he is middle of the road enough for both the Red & Yellows. He will be walking a very fine line.

I hope the Thai people give him a chance before causing any further disruptions.

Definitely not "middle of the road" for the reds. They are blocking the parliament building already.

Red-shirted people became angry upon learning the result of PM voting and used metal barriers to block the gates of Parliament at 10:40 am, it was reported.

TNN Channel showed pictures of red-shirted people using metal barriers of police to block the gates.

Police were seen looking on idly.

The Nation

[MamsMitch]

Why is everyone writing Thaksin off!! Do you think he is going to just lie down and go away. Not in a million years. I am not up to speed on who the new PM is and how well respected he is however I pray that he is middle of the road enough for both the Red & Yellows. He will be walking a very fine line.

I hope the Thai people give him a chance before causing any further disruptions.

Your last remark made me laugh.... This is Thailand.... There are already starting turn on the tele... They dont understand the difference between a right to protect and the right for others to have peace....they only protect by hurting others and property....

[maxman71]

I think this guy has the brains and character to do a good job. Lord knows Thailand needs some serious brain power in this position. The big question is, can this guy find some way to connect with the rural poor. Under Thaksin and his surrogates, they threw money at the poor, and this is what the poor want to see continue; they have been "trained" to think like this.

My take is this guy needs to use all his intelligence and compassion to convince the poor that they are better served by learning how to "fish" better, rather than just have someone give them fish. Thailand has great potential in their agricultural sector to dominate the region in that sector. But they need to modernize and become more efficient.

The need for food and clean drinking water worldwide are going to be real big "BFD's" in the coming years. Thailand has these resources, they just need to become better "fishermen". Overall, I am hopeful and will continue to pray for the Thai people and Mr. Abhisit.

[bubba]

As for the red shirts - or yellow shirts - the government can only remain in power so long as those who are responsible for upholding the law of the land do their job. Initial commentary above - "the police are standing idly by" - suggests they're not.

I wouldn't take that as an indication that the police are taking sides. They stood by idly while Suvarnabhumi was taken as well.

[Plus]

SOmebody left shoes for Abhisit?

Anything he does would be better than whatever Samak and Somchai didn't do.

True, the economy is not looking up, but he has a broad support in business sectors, and politicians would rather get on with their lives than start fighting all over again by stabbing him in the back.

For Thaksin it's truly over, politically, PTP will have to find its own reasons to exist. They would be a nice, strong opposition that would keep coalition parties on their toes, which is a good thing.

[njpski]

Ah, Democracy in action!

Lose an election, take over government house, blockade airports, wreck tourism, get prime ministership.

Neat!

The new PM should call fresh elections under the rule, one person, one vote, no pork barrelling of any kind (only joking ,Australia and the US never use pork barrelling tactics, yeah, right!!!) and abide by the result

[PhilM]

Hope he has the balls to tell PAD and the generals/elite clique where to go and change the constitution back to the agreed 97(?) model.

Hear, hear. That was a fine piece of work and accepted across society. Thaksin showed up its weaknesses but with the necessary amendments it can work.

[animatic]

Well one immediate benefit.

The word from Candyland is turned off now.

The inane fantasy babbling from Samak and Somchai

every time a reporter was near should be a thing of the past.

Abhisit is generally a quiet man, and that is long overdue in this job.

Of course we all await actions, and those speak louder than words... usually.

Edited December 15, 2008 by animatic

[MamsMitch]

Best thing they could do is to build a huge prison and stock it full of those causing death and property damage. As well as stopping public transportation....like most other countries would have already done. Thailand is fast becoming the paradise people want to stay away from. Once that happens the economy will crash. It will take many years to climb back out....

[Sandstone Art]

Wishing him all the NEST of LUCK in running the country!

May Buddha bless him with all the wisdom and tacts to handle all the unrest in the South and also those in Bangkok.

He is a very good candidate as the new PM of Thailand!

[bubba]

Ah, Democracy in action!

Lose an election, take over government house, blockade airports, wreck tourism, get prime ministership.

Neat!

The new PM should call fresh elections under the rule, one person, one vote, no pork barrelling of any kind (only joking ,Australia and the US never use pork barrelling tactics, yeah, right!!!) and abide by the result

And I suppose you infer that fresh elections would be democratic and without massive amounts of 500 baht notes being distributed by Thaksin to secure the election?

[konangrit]

Chai announces Abhisit's victory

House Speaker Chai Chidchob official announced the victory of Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjaiva at 11:30 am Monday.

Chai said Abhisit received 235 votes while his opponent, Pracha Promnonk, got 198 votes. Three MPs abstained.

Chai closed the House meeting immediately after the announcement.

-- The Nation 2008-12-15

[MamsMitch]

Ah, Democracy in action!

Lose an election, take over government house, blockade airports, wreck tourism, get prime ministership.

Neat!

The new PM should call fresh elections under the rule, one person, one vote, no pork barrelling of any kind (only joking ,Australia and the US never use pork barrelling tactics, yeah, right!!!) and abide by the result

And I suppose you infer that fresh elections would be democratic and without massive amounts of 500 baht notes being distributed by Thaksin to secure the election?

Do nt forget about the Viagra they were handing out up north!

[Scott]

I've had the honor and the priviledge of meeting the PM. He is a nice person and hopefully will do well for the country. I might add, he is a consumate politician and certain rather direct questions at the time, were left unanswered. Of course, this is to be expected of a politician.

I hope things settle down with the reds and yellows. The yellows had strong leadership that helped keep them in line. I don't think the reds have that and BKK is not their home base, so if they go on a rampage, it's going to be a lot more chaotic.

As for Thaksin, I wouldn't count him out, just yet. He's a power broker. I don't see him returning to 'rule' per se, but he is still a powerful force.

[Colonel_Mustard]

Ah, Democracy in action!

Lose an election, take over government house, blockade airports, wreck tourism, get prime ministership.

Neat!

The new PM should call fresh elections under the rule, one person, one vote, no pork barrelling of any kind (only joking ,Australia and the US never use pork barrelling tactics, yeah, right!!!) and abide by the result

And I suppose you infer that fresh elections would be democratic and without massive amounts of 500 baht notes being distributed by Thaksin to secure the election?

He probably won't need to in order to win the next election.

[SoMeOnEnUlL]

I wish him all the best. But, does that mean PAD will never be punished for what they have done to the Country?

[dave9988]

Anyone care to speculate as to how the PAD will react? Will this be enough to keep them from causing any more disruptions?

I wouldn't be concerned with PAD reaction, but rather with the Red Team's. I'm afraid they are capable as yellow one, to cause havoc and disruptions.

As I hope society in general will do - Perhaps its time for TV red shirts and yellow shirts to put the shirts back in the closet for a while, and try to work for the good of the country. A new party in power with a new elected PM deserve time to announce their policies and implement them.

so as soon as yellow wins the game should end for best of country?

[MyphuketLife]

Here we go.... [from the Nation]

Red-shirted people became angry upon learning the result of PM voting and used metal barriers to block the gates of Parliament at 10:40 am, it was reported.

TNN Channel showed pictures of red-shirted people using metal barriers of police to block the gates.

Police were seen looking on idly.

hhhh, I hope that the REDs don't go down the same path as the YELLOW shirts.... the last thing this country needs is more of the same destructive actions.... I hope that if they protest they do it peacefully and obey the law (same hopes I had for PAD).... one can dream....

[animatic]

Hope he has the balls to tell PAD and the generals/elite clique where to go and change the constitution back to the agreed 97(?) model.

Hear, hear. That was a fine piece of work and accepted across society. Thaksin showed up its weaknesses but with the necessary amendments it can work.

Yes this goes to the issue.

The BIGGEST cock-up for Surayud was starting from scratch with the charter

and not simply amending '97, to close the loop holes.

'97 wasn't too bad, it was a distillation of working charters over a period of time.

I think that isn't yet in the cards while Thaksin is still free

to cause trouble in pursuit of his pile o cash.

I really don't think he ever understood he could have likely gotten MOST of it back,

IF he had sublimated his lust for power... be he just can't it seems.

So he can't be trusted with that much cash....

How can someone so smart at the same time be so STUPID.

[larrylikesit]

I wonder how long it will be until we see the airports over run with red shirts????

[konangrit]

With there currently only being 436 out of 480 MPs, that leaves 44 empty seats, but according to The Nation's Tulsathit Taptim there are only 29 seats being contested in the by-elections. A Democrat MP just passed away, so that would make it 30 seats, but what about the other 14? Are these party list MPs to be awarded after the by-elections?

Kristian Bo has inquired about the by-elections. They will take place in January to fill the House seats left vacant by the political ban on the MPs who were executives of the three dissolved parties. There are a total of 29 seats (16 of which belonged to Chat Thai and 13 belonged to PPP) up for grab.

Link

[chowder]

i wish him luck, if you don't have anything to hide you shouldn't be afraid of anything, there's nothing for PAD to pick about, and the red shirt people just go home and enjoy your payout.

[Journalist]

Hansum man

But long time cannot. Short time only.

[Junglejerk]

Glad to have Mr. Mark as our new PM.. its like..new hope for Thailand

I wish him good... and I wish he could do whatever he said..

Sir, first of all.. my friend got no job.. just starting January due to her company has inform her this morning that because of the situation in Thailand and economic is going down so company need to 'early retire' number of staffs.

Well.. this week we will have meeting in our office too. hope I still have my job.