Thai lawmakers to vote on a new prime minister

The battleground of Thai politics shifted from the streets to Parliament on Monday as lawmakers prepared to vote for the country's fifth prime minister in two years.

The expected vote comes after months of instability caused by anti-government demonstrations, which culminated late last month with a weeklong takeover of Bangkok's two airports.

The Democrat Party, which has not been in power for eight years, is confident it has the support of enough lawmakers to elect its Oxford-educated leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, as the country's new prime minister.

But parties loyal to the legacy of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra also claim to have enough votes to name their candidate, former national police chief Pracha Promnok, to the top spot.

Thaksin's allies have led a coalition government since their party won a December 2007 general election. But the ruling People's Power Party and two coalition partners were forced to dissolve earlier this month when a court found them guilty of fraud in that election. The remnants of the PPP regrouped as the Phuea Thai Party, which will also be seeking a majority in Monday's session.

The anti-Thaksin protest movement seeks to purge politics of the influence of the former leader who was ousted by a 2006 coup.

Some economists are predicting the country will slip into recession next year.