SINGAPORE — Somchai Wongsawat, Thailand's 26th prime minister, has assumed the top position amid an unresolved political crisis. Unfortunately, the appointment of Somchai guarantees the continuation of massive protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which accuses the new premier of being another agent of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown by a military coup in September 2006.
Somchai, who happens to be Thaksin's brother-in-law, faces the uphill task of a reconciliation with antigovernment forces. Somchai must prove he is not a Thaksin surrogate and ensure that violent confrontations between PAD and progovernment supporters don't erupt again, a tall order these days.
Much attention has been paid to the role of the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) and Thaksin's alleged control of it during his exile in Britain from September 2006. However, little is known of PAD's position, its political dogma and why it persists in its opposition to the PPP regime.