As I noted in the update to my previous post, presumed Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is now Prime Minister Elect Yingluck Shinawatra.
The New York Times reports:
Thailand’s Parliament elected Yingluck Shinawatra the country’s first female prime minister on Friday, a month after her party won a landslide victory over a coalition backed by Thailand’s military and traditional political and business elites.
Ms. Yingluck, a political novice, received 296 votes in the 500-seat parliament, a reflection of her party’s comfortable majority.
Her position is almost official:
Ms. Yingluck’s selection must be approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej before she can officially take office. Thai media have speculated that she will announce her Cabinet within days.
The AP also has some analysis and says:
Before Yingluck can officially assume the post, however, King Bhumibol Adulyadej must endorse her in a separate ceremony expected to take place as early as Friday evening.
The FT notes that endorsement could come as late as Monday:
Ms Yingluck, 44, will formally assume office once the king endorses the parliamentary vote confirming her as the country’s first female prime minister, something that is expected by Monday.
The Wall Street Journal‘s lede points to what could be challenges ahead:
Thailand’s parliament formally elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the country’s next prime minister, signaling the start of a new but potentially rocky era in the Southeast Asian nation’s long-running political sagas.
And later:
Analysts generally believe it will only be a matter of time—possibly only a few months—before more serious tensions emerge, most likely around the issue of when or if Mr. Thaksin can return.
(All emphasis mine.)