BANGKOK Thailand's Parliament elected a house speaker on its first day of business Monday, as premier apparent Thaksin Shinawatra finished allotting cabinet posts to his two coalition partners, according to AFP.

Thaksin told reporters that the Chart Thai and New Aspiration (NAP) parties "are happy" with the final lineup.

They were given four jobs each in the 35-member cabinet while Thai Rak Thai, which scored a comfortable victory in the January 6 elections, retains the remaining 27.

New Aspiration leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a former prime minister and chief of the army, was handed the defense minister's post. His party will also hold the transport portfolio and two junior cabinet jobs.

"The Chart Thai Party will take the Science and Technology Ministry, and the Labor Ministry, with another two of its MPs to be appointed as deputy ministers," he said.

Thaksin expects to announce his cabinet on February 14 after New Aspiration and Chart Thai nominate candidates for the posts they have been allocated, AFP reported.

"The cabinet will look good, there will be no problems in finalizing it because the two party leaders know who should take up the positions," he said.