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Thai party names nominee for PM Thaksin ally nominated as Thai PM
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand's ruling party has named its candidate for prime minister to succeed Samak Sundaravej, who was removed from office by the courts last week. Thailand's governing People's Power Party has named Somchai Wongsawat as its candidate for prime minister to succeed Samak Sundaravej.
The People Power Party chose Somchai Wongsawat, who has been acting prime minister since Mr Samak's dismissal. Somchai Wongsawat has been acting prime minister since Mr Samak's dismissal by the courts last week.
Mr Somchai is a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as prime minister in an army coup in 2006.Mr Somchai is a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as prime minister in an army coup in 2006.
Mr Samak's own links to Mr Thaksin were highlighted by demonstrators who have mounted weeks of paralysing protests.Mr Samak's own links to Mr Thaksin were highlighted by demonstrators who have mounted weeks of paralysing protests.
So the selection of Mr Somchai - who is married to Mr Thaksin's favourite sister - is unlikely to placate them, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
His appointment as prime minister will have to be approved by parliament later this week.
Weekend negotiations
It became clear on Friday that Mr Samak would be unable to muster the support - from either his own party, or the other parties in the ruling coalition - to launch a fresh bid for the prime minister's position.
Over the weekend executives from the PPP have been bargaining hard to ensure they have enough support from the party's coalition partners and its own MPs behind a single candidate for prime minister.
They now believe they have that support for Mr Somchai, a softly spoken former judge, our correspondent reports.
But one of the main charges levelled at Mr Samak by protesters was that he was acting as a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who is accused of abusing his power during his five years in office and of being hostile to the monarchy - both of which he has always denied.
Mr Thaksin is believed to have lobbied strongly for the party to select Mr Somchai.