The former prime minister of Thailand, Samak Sundaravej, has passed away this morning at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. Samak, aged 74, had been battling with liver cancer for over a year. A political heavyweight in every sense, Samak will be remembered for his belligerent style and colourful approach to politics and to life. A keen chef, Samak’s passion for Thai food made him a regular at the fresh food markets of Bangkok and his gruff, no-nonsense approach made him a popular host of a cookery show on Thai television. Ironically, it was the television show which would eventually see him ousted from the position of prime minister.
During his long political career, Samak held posts in several governments as well as serving a spell as the governor of Bangkok. However, it will be his short and eventful tenure as prime minister of Thailand for which he may be most remembered. Samak was a former political rival of Thaksin Shinawatra, but the two men formed an alliance after Thaksin was barred from political life. As leader of the pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP), Samak was appointed prime minister in January 2008. He soon became the focus of anti-Thaksin feeling and the yellow shirt street protests began in May 2008. At one stage it appeared he would prevail over the protesters, but in a remarkable twist it was his role as a television chef that led to Samak being disqualified from political office in September 2008 over a conflict of interests .
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