Yingluck Shinwatra, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sister, was elected by the House of Representatives on Friday to be the 28th prime minister of Thailand.

Thailand's new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of the Puea Thai Party waves to the media after being elected the country's 28th prime minister in parliament in Bangkok August 5, 2011. Thailand's parliament elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the country's first female prime minister on Friday after the political novice won the support of more than half of the lawmakers in a televised vote, according to Reuters calculations. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Almost 60 percent or 296 of all 500 lawmakers voted in favor of Yingluck to be the first female prime minister of the country.

"Based on the vote result, Yingluck Shinawatra received more than half of the House seats in favor, making her the (new) prime minister," announced House speaker Somsak Kietsuranon before he adjourned the House meeting.

Since Yingluck was the only candidate, lawmakers were asked to vote "in favor", "against" or "abstain".

The second-largest and former ruling Democrat Party has made resolution for its lawmakers to abstain from voting.

Among 197 legislators who abstained were Yingluck herself, the House speaker and his two deputies, but mostly from opposition parties including Democrat Party, Bhumjai Thai and Rak Thailand.

Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck won 265 seats in the general election on July 3.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet