Mr Samak does not fit the elite's billing of a prime minister, but this should hardly be an issue. The first thing he has said after his election by Parliament is that he will assemble a competent economic team to make Thailand prosper again. This matters greatly. It shows he is clear about what needs to be done early in his term. But he will need the confidence of all sections of opinion. Patricians, populists and the odd plodder have been prime ministers. Yet the nation came to no harm, or little harm, as long as the soldiers were kept in their barracks and business people were helped in their wealth-creation with sensible policies from a government not distracted by having to watch its back.

Mr Samak has a long agenda. He has first to make investors welcome again by amending or eliminating controls and excessive nationalism in investment rules. The Thai Chamber of Commerce and business leaders see investment and a consumption boost as important to growth, in tandem with maintaining price stability when the oil price is raging. Next, he has to secure the cooperation of the military and development agencies in producing the right policy prescription to combat the southern unrest, even as he plans to uplift the north, the party's support base. Doubts continue to be expressed about how secure Mr Samak could be in his role. Detractors could as well ask how secure Thailand could be if they place hurdles in their chosen government's path.