National Legislative Assembly (NLA) vote Tuesday to select Meechai Ruchuphan as its president, beating two other candidates; Prasong Soonsiri and Purachai Piemsomboon.

Meechai, a former senate speaker, won 167 votes out of 242 NLA members while Prasong got 47 and Purachai 27. Two other candidates; Ammar Siamwala and Juree Wijitvatakarn, withdrew themselves from the contest.

Before NLA started the voting, NLA members agreed to a proposal that they would vote twice to select the president out of concerns that the president would possibly not get more than half of the chamber.

However as Meechai won more than half of the 242 NLA, the second round was not necessary.

Political observers earlier said that there would be a fierce contest between Meechai and Prasong, with Meechai would edge out Prasong with narrow margin.

The NLA will then select the deputies.

Meechai, a former president of the Senate, played a key role during the coup by acting as legal adviser to the military elite, who staged the coup to oust the caretaker government of Thaksin Shinawatra. Prasong also advised the military rulers on most political moves during the coup.