A combative veteran politician representing ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's interests was chosen as premier, a move that could put the new government on a collision course with the military that ousted Thaksin in a 2006 coup.

Samak Sundaravej easily beat the Democrat party candidate 310-163, taking a key step Jan. 29 toward restoring democracy, but experts fear the election of a Thaksin supporter may further divide Thailand.