Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party's leader, was elected by a majority of the Parliament to be the new prime minister in December 2008.

Previously in 2008, Newin had wept with Thaksin when the former PM kissed the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi Airport after returning to Thailand after a self-imposed exile.

Born to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chai Chidchob, of Thai Khmer-Chinese Cambodian background, many of his ancestors were elephant drivers (mahouts).

Later, he completed a diploma in community development from Buriram Rajabhat Institute in 1987, and graduated in bachelor's degree of Agriculture and Cooperative Promotion from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

On 19 June 1998, the Buriram Provincial Court handed Newin a suspended six-month jail sentence and a ฿50,000 fine in a vote-buying slander case filed by Democrat MP Karoon Sai-ngam.