Thai political developments in past 2 years

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-13-2009 09:10

Samak Sundaravej was elected the 25th Prime Minister of Thailand in December 2007. He formed a six-party coalition government consisting of the People's Power Party, the Chart Thai Party, the PUEA Pandin Party, the Matchaima Thipataya Party, the Rum Jaj Thai Chart Pattana Party and the Royal Peoples Party.

The driver of Thai prime minister's secretary Niphon  Prompan is seen injured in his car after he was  attacked by supporters of former Prime Minister  Thaksin Shinawatra at the Interior Ministry in  Bangkok April 12, 2009.[Agencies]

In May 2008, anti-government organization the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, demanded Samak's resignation. The PAD accused Samak's government of working for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and began protests that lasted for months. The demonstrators were called "Yellow Shirts" because they wore yellow clothes during their protests.

On August 26th last year, PAD supporters broke into the government house and occupied the Prime Minister's office in Bangkok.

On September 9th, a senior court ruled that Samak went against the constitution by hosting a TV cooking program after he took office as the Prime Minister, and deprived him of his position.

A week later Thaksin's brother-in-law, also vice-chairman of the People's Power Party, Somchai Wongsawat, was elected Prime Minister.