In February 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand's richest businessmen, became prime minister and appointed a Cabinet studded with other leading business figures. This was new. Although businessmen had dominated Thailand's parliament as electoral politics developed over the previous two decades, big business figures had remained slightly aloof Thaksin had won the election on a platform of measures appealing directly to the rural mass. This too was new. Previous elections had been won by local influence. Party platforms had not been taken seriously (Arghiros 2001; Callahan and McCargo 1996). The foreign press described Thaksin and his program as "populist." This was so new that a Thai term had to be invented, while Thai academics helpfully wrote press articles to explain populism's meaning and history (e.g., Kasian 2001). Thaksin's party had won just short of an absolute majority. In no previous election since 1979 had any party reached one third. over the coming year, Thaksin implemented all the major elements of his electoral platform. This was very new indeed. By mid 2002, Thaksin was predicting he would remain in power for several four year terms. No previous elected premier had survived one.