It is illegal for a government minister to hold any other paying job, and on 9 September 2008, the full bench of the Constitutional Court ruled it was unconstitutional for him to work for a private company (Thailand ITV) and therefore disqualified him from office.

[10] In late August 1976, Seni sent Samak to Singapore to try to persuade Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn not to return to Thailand.

[11] However, writer Paul M. Handley claims Samak was a close confidant of Queen Sirikit and was told to guarantee royal support for the exiled Field Marshal.

On 5 October, Samak was removed from his ministerial position, and in reaction organised an anti-government demonstration calling for the dismissal of three liberal Democrat ministers he branded as "communists".

[12] He was prominent in the events leading to the 6 October 1976 massacre at Thammasat University, in which leftist students protesting against the return of a former military dictator were killed by rightwing mobs.

In interviews he gave to CNN and al-Jazeera in 2008, Samak denied any involvement in the attacks that left at least 46 dead, and he insisted only one person was killed intentionally.

Samak immediately launched a campaign that caused the arrest of hundreds of alleged leftists, including many writers and other intellectuals.

[13] In 1992, as Deputy Prime Minister in the military-appointed Suchinda administration, Samak justified the military's brutal suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators by declaring the government had the right to do so as long as the United States could send its troops to kill people in other countries, referring to the Gulf War which defeated Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1991.

[14] He remained unrepentant and continued to stand by his justification, stating the military was merely trying to restore law and order after the pro-democracy demonstrators, whom he branded as "troublemakers", had resorted to "mob rule".

[citation needed] The Democrat Party, led by Sathit Wongnongtoei, on 18 June 2008 submitted to Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranan a censure motion of no-confidence against Samak Sundaravej and 7 cabinet ministers in the parliament, to oust his coalition government.

[18][19] Amid 4 months in power and public street protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Samak and all 7 cabinet members survived the no-confidence motion.

[20] Samak Sundaravej's 5-month-old government was in great trouble on 10 July 2008 after Pattama the third top official in the ruling People Power Party (PPP) resigned from this post, effective Monday.

The deputy leader of the party Yongyut Tiyapairat, was banned from politics for 5 years, after the Supreme Court affirmed vote buying charges against him.

The Constitutional Court ruled on 8 July that Noppadon and the entire cabinet violated the charter by failing to ask parliamentary approval for a Cambodia deal.

Noppadon signed the agreement on June, to support Cambodia's bid to seek World Heritage status for the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

[21] The Opposition filed a petition with deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanit to impeach Noppadon Pattama over Preah Vihear Temple issue.

[23] A few days after, 30,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy occupied Samak's Government House compound in central Bangkok so as to force him and his advisers to work out of a military command post.

Police issued arrest warrants for Sondhi Limthongkul and 8 other protest leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, unlawful assembly and refusing orders to disperse.

"[citation needed] Despite objections from its coalition partners, the PPP, in an urgent meeting, unanimously decided to renominate Samak Sundaravej.

Meanwhile, Thailand's army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda said he backed the creation of a unity government that would include all the country's parties, and he also asked for the lifting of a state of emergency that Samak imposed on 2 September.

Samak, after having received a quo warranto, represented to the accusation through submitting the letters dated 30 June 14 and 25 August 2008 to the ConCourt, stated that: 4.

[46] People Power Party's deputy spokesman Kuthep Suthin Klangsang, on 12 September 2008, announced that: "Samak has accepted his nomination for prime minister.

Meanwhile, Thailand's army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda said he backed the creation of a unity government that would include all the country's parties, and he also asked for the lifting of a state of emergency that Samak imposed on 2 September.

The majority of his party and the coalition partners eventually voted for Somchai Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister, to be the new premier.

Samak Sundaravej and former TRT Cabinet Minister Surapong Suebwonglee were elected People's Power Party leader and secretary general respectively on 24 August 2007.

[50] Samak angrily insisted he was the country's real leader on 29 February 2008 despite the triumphant return from exile of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the man considered the driving force behind the new government.

[54] At age 73, Samak admitted he had liver cancer and underwent laser surgery to remove a tumour and was treated at Bumrungrad International Hospital on 2 October 2008.

[56] Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai Prime Minister, said "My family and I express profound sorrow for the passing away of HE (His Excellency) Samak but I will not be able to attend his funeral.