PPP MPs back re-nomination of Samak as premier

BANGKOK, Sept 11 (TNA) – Members of Parliament of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday voiced support for the re-nomination of Samak Sundaravej as the prime minister, according to party spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang.

The move came just two days after the Constitution Court unanimously
removed Mr. Samak from office for violating the country's supreme law by
hosting two cooking shows on commercial televisions.

Speaking after a 2-hour meeting of party members, Mr. Kuthep said that
core party members had earlier held an informal discussion and shared the
common view that the party would maintain its resolution of September 9
that Mr. Samak be re-elected as prime minister in the House session
scheduled for Friday.

The party MPs were informed of the resolution at the meeting and all
agreed that the party re-nominate Mr. Samak to the top executive post.

"Today, we are fighting with a powerful thing," Mr. Kuthep said, "in
particular a new political idea, intended to destroy the democracy.

"We share a common view Mr. Samak has been against it all along. So, we
are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with him to continue fighting," he
said.

Regarding criticisms by academics that the re-nomination of Mr. Samak
serves as a challenge to the court's decision, he said the academics
should rather turn to assess behaviour of the People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD), which he viewed a greater challenge to the court's
ruling.

"Mr. Samak has done nothing corrupt or damaging to the country. So, all
party members have adopted the resolution," he said.

Asked whether the resolution was really made by the party, Mr. Kuthep
confirmed it, saying what his team explained and was assigned to explain
that it is considered the party's resolution.

"It is possible some MPs or members of the party have a different opinion
on the matter because they have different views," he said, "but when a
resolution is made by the party, all must follow it," he said. (TNA)