Thailand's coalition govt to submit name of new PM to House this Friday

BANGKOK, Sept 10 (TNA) - Amid jockeying to find a new Thai prime minister, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is prepared to submit the name of new prime minister to the House of Representatives this Friday, PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said on Wednesday.

Mr. Surapong, acting deputy prime minister and finance minister, said his
party was opened to listen to opinions from academics, businessmen and
other sectors so that the nomination of new prime minister by the current
caretaker administration would be accepted by the society.

He said former prime minister Samak Sundaravej who is PPP leader was also
considered as one of the candidates along with other key party leaders and
the name of the new premier would be submitted to the House session this
Friday.

Moves by PPP to urgently nominate the new prime minister comes after the
Constitution Court on Tuesday ruled that Mr. Samak violated the charter
due to his having hosted cooking shows on commercial television stations
and he must leave the office immediately while his cabinet ministers would
become caretaking ministers.

Article 267 stipulates that a prime minister is prohibited from holding
any position in a partnership, firm or an organisation carrying out
business with the intention to share profits or income, or being an
employee.

Mr. Samak is not barred from being re-elected prime minister, and his
ruling PPP, as well as its five partners in the coalition, have already
voiced their support for him to run the country which continues to face
political turbulence as anti-government protesters loyal to People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who took control of Government House August
26 and have demanded that the government resign without condition.

Talks were held early Wednesday between key leaders of PPP with Banharn
Silpa-archa, leader of Chart Thai Party which is one of the partners in
the coalition government, and it was agreed that the PPP should remain the
core leader in forming a new administration, said Mr. Surapong.

The PPP will form the new government with its five partners, he said,
adding that discussions will be held with PPP members on Thursday to
finalise who would be nominated as new government leader. Mr. Banharn,
former prime minister, said he personally felt that the new prime
minister must be a compromise person.

However, under current political situation it is unfavourable for the
partners in the coalition to desert PPP, said Mr. Banharn.

As PPP leaders were holding serious negotiations on who should be
nominated the new prime minister, Mr. Samak early Friday left his
residence and went to fresh market for shopping. He later went to make
offerings to Buddhist monks before returning to his house.

Retired Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, a core leader of the PAD, insisted
Wednesday that his protesting group would not accept if Mr. Samak and his
caretaker cabinet ministers return in a new administration.

Maj-Gen. Chamlong said Mr. Samak is also awaiting a ruling by Appeals
Court on a defamation suit on September 25 and if he is found guilty he
will have to again leave the post, if nominated.

There is still a way out to resolve political deadlock, said Maj-Gen.
Chamlong, adding that the new prime minister must be a person who could
solve national problems and is a clean man. (TNA)