Mr Samak's People's Power Party, a new group backed by Thaksin, won the largest number of seats in elections last month. -- PHOTO: AP

The vote for Mr Samak, who heads the People's Power Party, is considered a key step to restoring democracy in Thailand following the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

After the vote, he went to a fresh market to buy groceries and mingle with the lunchtime crowd.

Choosing a Thaksin supporter for the post is likely to further divide a country that has struggled to regain its footing since the coup.

Mr Samak's People's Power Party, a new group backed by Mr Thaksin, won the largest number of seats in elections last month. The PPP heads a six-party coalition with two-thirds of the 480 seats in Parliament's lower house.

Mr Samak says his new cabinet would be in place next week and sought to reassure investors that he would name a strong economic team.

From TV cook to PM - Thailand's Samak BANGKOK - THAILAND'S parliament elected abrasive People Power Party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej prime minister on Monday as the country returns to a democratically-elected government after a 2006 coup. Here are five facts about the 72-year-old politician: Born in Bangkok on June 13, 1935 into an aristocratic family, Samak earned a law degree from Bangkok's prestigious Thammasat University and worked in various jobs as a clerk, tour guide and journalist. Samak ran a radio campaign against pro-democracy student activists in the mid-1970s and supported a bloody crackdown on them in Oct 1976 which led to a coup. He served briefly as interior minister in the military-appointed government. He was elected Bangkok governor in a landslide in 2000 but left office four years later with low approval ratings. He still faces graft probes into projects started while he was in office. Samak was elected to the Senate in 2006, but lost his job after the Sept 19 coup abolished the constitution. He stayed in the public eye as host of a television cooking show. The political knife fighter was elected PPP leader in August last year and vowed to fight 'military dictatorship'. After a tussle with journalists during the election campaign, cartoonists played on his bulbous nose and portrayed him as an uncouth pig. ... more Fewer than half of Thais support Samak as new PM BANGKOK - FEWER than half of Thailand's voters support Samak Sundaravej as their next prime minister, a poll said as Parliament prepared on Monday to elect him as the nation's leader. The survey by Assumption University found that 44 per cent of respondents supported Mr Samak, an ally of former ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, while 38 per cent did not. The remainder said they had no opinion. ... more Samak says no celebration over election as Thai PM BANGKOK - MR Samak Sundaravej, who was elected Monday as Thailand's new prime minister, said he would not celebrate his victory and would continue to lead a normal life in his new office. 'I will still go to the market to buy groceries before returning home to cook and share meals with my wife,' he told reporters as voting got underway in Parliament to choose the new premier. ... more

'I will start working at Government House before Feb 5, and the cabinet line-up will be finished before the start of Lunar New Year,' which Thais begin celebrating on Feb 6, he told reporters.

He declined to say who he would propose to fill the top posts in his cabinet, but insisted that he would pick a strong economic team.

'The person who will become finance minister is capable, knowledgeable, and professional. He is a party insider, but will be acceptable' to others, Mr Samak said.

One of the top contenders for the finance post is believed to be Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary general of Mr Samak's People Power Party (PPP).

Although Mr Surapong is a medical doctor by profession, he is considered close to ousted premier Thaksin.

Focus on economy
Meanwhile, opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged Mr Samak to focus his efforts on bolstering the economy, which has lagged behind the rest of Southeast Asia.

'I would like to see the new government solve our economic problems and quickly restore confidence' in the kingdom, he told reporters after he was defeated by Mr Samak in the parliamentary vote.

'The government has no time for a honeymoon, because there are problems that need solving. Restoring confidence in the country will improve the situation,' added Mr Abhisit, who leads the Democrat Party.

'The cabinet should be filled with people who are knowledgeable and capable, not necessarily experts, but they should be able to manage their work and most importantly, be honest,' he said.

Asked about worries that Mr Samak's six-party coalition would prove unstable and short-lived, Mr Abhisit said he believed the government could complete its term.

'That's an internal issue (for Samak's People Power Party), but this government could last for four years,' he said. -- AFP, AP