Somchai Wongsawat is a brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, having married their sister Yaowapha.
10 Facts About Somchai Wongsawat
2.
Somchai Wongsawat completed his primary education in his home town, and his secondary education at Amnuay Silpa School in Bangkok.
3.
Somchai Wongsawat received a bachelor of law from Faculty of Law, Thammasat University in 1970, becoming a barrister-at-law of the Thai Bar Association in the next three year.
4.
Somchai Wongsawat achieved his master of Public Administration from the National Institute of Development Administration in 2002.
5.
Somchai Wongsawat held office as judge of the 3rd Region's Appealate Court in 1993 and chief of the Bench of the 2nd Region's Appealate Court in 1997.
6.
In 1998 Somchai Wongsawat was appointed as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice for Academic Affairs, and later for Administrative Affairs.
7.
Somchai Wongsawat became the Permanent Secretary of Justice on 11 November 2000, and was transferred to become the Permanent Secretary of Labor from 8 March to 30 September 2006, the date he retired from the public service after reaching pensionable age.
8.
Somchai Wongsawat became the prime minister on 9 September 2008, upon the Constitutional Court's decision that the premiership of Samak Sundaravej had been terminated for his having worked as the emcee of two cooking shows while in office, in violation of the law forbidden government ministers from holding any other paid employment.
9.
On 17 September 2008, Somchai Wongsawat was elected prime minister of the country by the National Assembly, receiving 298 favourable votes, more than the 163 votes for Abhisit Vejjajiva.
10.
Somchai Wongsawat escaped by climbing a rear fence after his policy address.