Top execs, academic oppose re-electing Samak as PM

BANGKOK, Sept 10 (TNA) – The ruling People Power Party (PPP)'s insistence on re-electing Samak Sundaravej as the prime minister following the Constitutional Court's decision to strip him from the post for violating the charter by hosting cooking shows on commercial television has drawn oppositions by top private sector executives and a leading academic.

Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said he believed the court's ruling would help ease the tension arising from the ongoing anti-government protest led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and restore investor confidence.

However, investors and the business community are closely monitoring who
will become Thailand's next prime minister.

Mr. Santi conceded that most observers were concerned that the ongoing
political standoff would deteriorate if PPP insists on re-nominating Mr.
Samak to the top executive post.

Thai Rice Exporters Association president Chukiati Opaswong said he viewed
the court's ruling would help ease ongoing political tensions.

He wanted to see the dissolution of the House of Representatives so that
the public could decide on itsr own in a snap election.

Regarding reports that Mr. Samak would re-elected prime minister, he said
it is considered an illegal and illegitimate move because Mr. Samak is no
longer qualified for the post given the fact that he faced a charge of
defamation which is being deliberated by the Appeals Court.

Somphob Manarangsang of Chulalongkorn University's Economics Faculty, said
the court's ruling served to unlock the ongoing political stalemate.

So, all parties should take this opportunity to find a proper way to
address the political standoff.

But if the PPP insists on re-electing Mr. Samak as prime minister, the
current political situation would worsen. (TNA)