PPP leader is set to become prime minister as cases against EC and party are dropped
Published on January 19, 2008
Samak Sundaravej's last hurdle to becoming prime minister was removed yesterday after the Supreme Court dropped all cases against the Election Commission (EC) and the People Power Party (PPP) concerning the December 23 election.
Meanwhile the EC endorsed 26 winning candidates, including PPP deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyaphairat, which made the number of MPs up to 460, over 95 per cent of the 480 House seats, enabling the first House session convene on Monday.
The PPP is also close to concluding its Cabinet line-up, which includes some ex-members of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, who had fought to protect deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra after the coup of September 19, 2006. Samak will reportedly concurrently assume the posts of prime minister and defence minister.
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled out the complaint filed by the New Aspiration Party that the EC had no authority to organise the advance and absentee balloting on December 15 and 16.
The court said the EC had been legally authorised to allow advance and absentee voting a week ahead of the December 23 polls. The court also dropped all the four legal issues raised by Democrat candidate Chaiwat Sinsuwong.
They are whether the PPP was qualified for the election as a nominee of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, whether People Power leader Samak was qualified to run in the race as the proxy of Thaksin, whether the advance voting was valid and whether the distribution, allegedly by PPP candidates in northeastern provinces, of video CDs of Thaksin asking his supporters to vote for the PPP was illegal.
"I'm relieved. We will no longer face hurdles," PPP leader Samak said. He said his party would now look forward to pushing for the formation of a government. He will hold an official press conference to announce the coalition of six parties led by the PPP at the Sukhothai Hotel today at 2pm.
PPP secretary-general Sura-pong Suebwonglee said the first House session would convene on Monday. The House will on Tuesday elect its speaker, who will also by law become Parliament president.
The House will elect the prime minister on Friday. After that the coalition will choose Cabinet members and address the House on government policy.
Surapong refused to confirm that Yongyuth would become House speaker, but a PPP source said PPP members had agreed to back him for the post.
The Cabinet line-up will reportedly be settled by next week, with Chalerm Yubamrung as interior minister, Mingkhwan Saengsuwan as a deputy prime minister and commerce minister post.
Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, or Sompong Amornwiwat will be justice minister. Santi Promphat, a close aide of banned Thai Rak Thai executive Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, will become transport minister.
Jakrapob Penkair, a key leader of the pro-Thaksin camp, and Thaksin's spokesman Noppadon Pattama will be appointed to ministerial posts.
One of the two deputy-speaker positions will go to the Chart Thai Party.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday said he had high hopes that Samak would be able to lead the country to reconciliation as prime minister.
Surayud said he had never given up hope for the country "if we all help each other and do not let bad things happen, and we should not lose the chance''.
He said the military was in the best position to say whether it would be happy if Samak doubled as defence minister. "I am not a general any more. I am just Mr Surayud,'' he said.
He said he had instructed the National Police Commission to closely monitor the political situation in the light of the Supreme Court's ruling on whether the PPP was a proxy of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai.
Piyanart Srivalo,
Atthayuth Butrsripoom
The Nation
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Published on January 19, 2008
Samak Sundaravej's last hurdle to becoming prime minister was removed yesterday after the Supreme Court dropped all cases against the Election Commission (EC) and the People Power Party (PPP) concerning the December 23 election.
Meanwhile the EC endorsed 26 winning candidates, including PPP deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyaphairat, which made the number of MPs up to 460, over 95 per cent of the 480 House seats, enabling the first House session convene on Monday.
The PPP is also close to concluding its Cabinet line-up, which includes some ex-members of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, who had fought to protect deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra after the coup of September 19, 2006. Samak will reportedly concurrently assume the posts of prime minister and defence minister.
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled out the complaint filed by the New Aspiration Party that the EC had no authority to organise the advance and absentee balloting on December 15 and 16.
The court said the EC had been legally authorised to allow advance and absentee voting a week ahead of the December 23 polls. The court also dropped all the four legal issues raised by Democrat candidate Chaiwat Sinsuwong.
They are whether the PPP was qualified for the election as a nominee of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, whether People Power leader Samak was qualified to run in the race as the proxy of Thaksin, whether the advance voting was valid and whether the distribution, allegedly by PPP candidates in northeastern provinces, of video CDs of Thaksin asking his supporters to vote for the PPP was illegal.
"I'm relieved. We will no longer face hurdles," PPP leader Samak said. He said his party would now look forward to pushing for the formation of a government. He will hold an official press conference to announce the coalition of six parties led by the PPP at the Sukhothai Hotel today at 2pm.
PPP secretary-general Sura-pong Suebwonglee said the first House session would convene on Monday. The House will on Tuesday elect its speaker, who will also by law become Parliament president.
The House will elect the prime minister on Friday. After that the coalition will choose Cabinet members and address the House on government policy.
Surapong refused to confirm that Yongyuth would become House speaker, but a PPP source said PPP members had agreed to back him for the post.
The Cabinet line-up will reportedly be settled by next week, with Chalerm Yubamrung as interior minister, Mingkhwan Saengsuwan as a deputy prime minister and commerce minister post.
Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, or Sompong Amornwiwat will be justice minister. Santi Promphat, a close aide of banned Thai Rak Thai executive Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, will become transport minister.
Jakrapob Penkair, a key leader of the pro-Thaksin camp, and Thaksin's spokesman Noppadon Pattama will be appointed to ministerial posts.
One of the two deputy-speaker positions will go to the Chart Thai Party.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday said he had high hopes that Samak would be able to lead the country to reconciliation as prime minister.
Surayud said he had never given up hope for the country "if we all help each other and do not let bad things happen, and we should not lose the chance''.
He said the military was in the best position to say whether it would be happy if Samak doubled as defence minister. "I am not a general any more. I am just Mr Surayud,'' he said.
He said he had instructed the National Police Commission to closely monitor the political situation in the light of the Supreme Court's ruling on whether the PPP was a proxy of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai.
Piyanart Srivalo,
Atthayuth Butrsripoom
The Nation
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
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