A New Prime Minister is Elected in Thailand

(15 Dec 08 - RV) Parliament chose opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as Thailand's prime minister
today following months of political chaos, as supporters of the former government tried to blockade lawmakers in the building. The Oxford-educated Abhisit, who heads the Democrat Party, gathered 235 votes against 198 by former national police chief Pracha Promnok, a loyalist of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.The lower house vote followed six months of instability caused by anti-government and anti-Thaksin demonstrations that culminated last month with a weeklong takeover of Bangkok's two airports.Charles Monthienvichienchai is a PhD student of Thai history. He says that this election could be the answer to Thailand’s political crisis...