Newspapers, vox pops after selection of Vejjajiva as new PM

(16 Dec 2008) Bangkok - 16 December 2008 1. Various close-ups of newspapers with photos of Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva 2. Close-up of newspaper with photo of supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra attacking a car which Democrat Party Members of Parliament were in, newspaper headline reads: (English) "Tough Task for new PM" 4. Various of Bangkok street scenes 5. SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Vox Pop: Athipat Kasemsuk, local resident: "We have no choice, we can't choose any more. What we can do is to find the best person we have so that he can work for us all." 6. Mid of students talking on the street 7. SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Vox Pop: Warisara Phraprasertkul, local resident: "The country has already been divided. We need a change. Maybe he will be able to make things better and bring more unity among people." Bangkok - 15 December 2008 8. Wide of MPs inside Thailand's Parliament House 9. Mid of new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva 10. Abhisit standing with other MPs 11. Parliament official reading from papers 12. Abhisit being congratulated by other parliamentarians after the voting STORYLINE: Thailand's new prime minister faces the difficult task of unifying a country torn apart by months of violent anti-government protests, demonstrations that battered the key tourism industry just as the global economy was slipping into its worst crisis in decades. The selection, on Monday, of Abhisit Vejjajiva, the 44-year-old, Oxford-educated opposition leader, marks the first time in eight years that a civilian government will be led by an opponent of exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has loomed over Thai politics since he was ousted by a military coup in 2006. Abhisit began to put together his Cabinet on Tuesday, which will struggle to heal the rift between the middle class that is his base and the rural poor who backed Thaksin, and manage an economy buffeted by Thailand's political turmoil and a global slowdown. Abhisit, who has a strong economic background, is expected to unveil a solid economic team when the cabinet positions are announced, probably on Friday. Abhisit must still be officially endorsed as prime minister by the constitutional monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, likely within several days. His appointment is expected to bring at least a brief period of calm, although the move unleashed new protests by supporters of the previous government. Abhisit's image as an upper-class elitist also could hinder his attempts to end the turmoil. On Tuesday morning in Bangkok some people were optimistic that the new Premier would unite Thailand. One woman, Warisara Phraprasertkul, said she hopes Abhisit will "bring more unity among people." In Monday's vote in the lower house of parliament, Abhisit received support from 235 members of parliament, compared with 198 for a pro-Thaksin former national police chief. From a wealthy family of Thai-Chinese origin, Abhisit was born in England and educated at Eton and Oxford, where he earned an honours degree in philosophy, politics and economics. His first name means "privilege" in Thai and his friends call him by his foreign nickname, Mark. He joined the country's oldest party, the Democrats, in 1992 and became one of the youngest ever members of parliament. He rose in the party ranks and in popularity, especially among the educated in Bangkok who took to his clean record, polite demeanour, articulate if somewhat bland speeches and movie-star looks. The Democrats had been in opposition since 2001, when Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, first took power. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...