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.

'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