Thai ruling party to vote for new PM on Monday, Thaksin brother in-law is a lead

[Admin]

Thai ruling party to vote for new PM on Monday, Thaksin brother in-law is a leading candidate
 
 
Bangkok Post: 13 Sep 2008
PPP to vote for new PM on Monday

People Power party (PPP) MPs will vote for the person the party would nominate as new prime minister on Monday, deputy party leader Sompong Amornwiwat said Saturday.

The party's resolution will be informed to coalition partners.

He added that the coalition parties will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday.

The candidates are Mr Sompong himself, deputy party leader Somchai Wongsawat and secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee.

Mr Sompong also said the coalition parties have no objection if one of the three becomes the new prime minister. 

[Admin]

Thaksin's brother in-law nominated to be next Thai Premier 
Bangkok Post: 15/9/2008

The People Power party (PPP) nominated caretaker prime minister Somchai Wongsawat to be voted for the next premier, according to PPP deputy leader Kan Tienkaew.

The House meeting to elect the new prime minister will be on Wednesday.

Pol Lt Col Kan said if problems relating to Mr Somchai arise, caretaker justice minister Sompong Amornwiwat will replace him. Another favourite candidate, caretaker deputy prime minister and finance minister Surapong Suebwonglee, was not selected because he is still involved in the two- and three-digit lottery case, he said.

The PPP deputy leader believed the coalition parties will not oppose the nomination of Mr Somchai.

After disqualified premier Samak Sundaravej’s announcement to end his political role last week, he said Mr Samak has not submitted his resignation letter to the PPP yet.

According to his secretary-general Theerapol Nopparampa, Mr Samak only refused to return as prime minister, and the party leader does not have to take premier’s post as always.

Pol Lt Col Kan reckoned the PPP could be dissolved within the next three months, and almost all the PPP members will move to the Puea Thai party. However, some members may join other political parties or set up a new party instead.
 

[nookiebear]

It's takes some believing,,,,,,,,,,but this is Thailand.........How long before a coup??

[TBWG]

See BBC coverage............

The ruling party in Thailand has agreed to unite around a single candidate to be the new prime minister.

All factions in the People Power Party now say they will support Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

A rebel faction within the party had threatened not to support the nomination, saying it would only prolong the country's political crisis.

Mr Somchai must be approved by parliament in a vote on Wednesday.

But the party says it is confident it will win sufficient votes.

The agreement capped a day of intense political bargaining, with the threat of the party having to call a snap election if the deal-making failed.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says major factions within the PPP have been demanding cabinet posts in a future government in return for their support of Mr Somchai.

At the same time, prosecutors issued a second arrest warrant against Mr Thaksin, now in exile in the UK.

Reconciliation

Party spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said on Tuesday that a faction of 73 lawmakers dropped their objection to backing Mr Somchai, who became acting prime minister last week after a court forced Samak Sundaravej to step down.
Anti-government protesters in Government House, Bangkok, on Tuesday
Protesters remain camped out at the government complex

One of the dissidents, Suthin Klangsang, said at a news conference that the breakaway group accepted the party's choice "after a discussion of the party and after listening to Mr Somchai".

Correspondents say that the apparent conclusion of haggling for cabinet positions makes the election of Mr Somchai at Wednesday's special session of parliament highly likely.

"Tomorrow, all 73 MPs in our group will vote for Mr Somchai as the new prime minister," Supachai Poesu, a spokesman for the faction, told reporters after a party meeting.

Mr Somchai is married to a sister of Mr Thaksin and so provided a target for renewed opposition from inside and outside the government.

Protesters occupying the main Government House in Bangkok are demanding a change of government, arguing the present one is merely a proxy for Mr Thaksin.

Arrest warrant

The Supreme Court issued a second arrest warrant for Mr Thaksin on Tuesday after he failed to appear at the start of a trial investigating soft government loans to the military regime in neighbouring Burma while he was in office.

Another warrant was issued against him and his wife, Pojaman, when they failed to return from Beijing last month for a separate corruption trial.

Mr Thaksin faces charges of conflict of interest and abuse of power for approving a 2004 low-interest loan to Burma in exchange for satellite services and equipment orders from the Shin Satellite company, then owned by his family.

The four billion baht (currently the equivalent of US$127m) loan was issued by the state-controlled Export-Import Bank of Thailand.

The case has been suspended until Mr Thaksin can be presented in court.

TBWG

[TBWG]

It's takes some believing,,,,,,,,,,but this is Thailand.........How long before a coup??

Hi

Keep it in the family.. I see Brother in law Somchai got the job!


TBWG

[Admin]

Thai PM endorsed by HM the King, new cabinet awaits Thaksin's perusal 
Bangkok Post: 19 Sep 2008
Thaksin 'still boss'

A People Power party envoy is believed to be on his way to London to submit the potential line-up of the Somchai Wongsawat cabinet to the perusal of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Yongyuth Tiyapairat, a former deputy leader of the People Power party, has been ordered to Britain by new prime minister Somchai Wongsawat to update Mr Thaksin on the political situation and seek his advice on allotment of cabinet seats, a source in the PPP said.

Some changes could be made to the proposed line-up based on his advice.

The report of the list being delivered to London came after His Majesty the King on Thursday endorsed the nomination of deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat as the new prime minister.

The royal command appointing Mr Somchai was accepted by Parliament President Chai Chidchob who was granted an audience with the King to nominate Mr Somchai at Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin.

The source said the line-up has yet to be finalised. It is being prepared by core party members, including Mr Yongyuth and deputy PPP leader Sompong Amornwiwat and is expected to be finalised on Sunday, before being readied for royal endorsement.

The source said attempts are under way to weaken the political clout of former Thai Rak Thai executive Newin Chidchob who commands the rebellious Friends of Newin faction in the PPP.

The faction, which has 73 MPs under its wing, opposed Mr Somchai's nomination but then had a change of heart.

The source said Mr Sompong is likely to be moved from the Justice Ministry to the Interior Ministry, where he is expected to challenge Mr Newin's clout.

It is also reported that the Friends of Newin faction will lose the seat being held by Supol Fongngam, deputy interior minister.

The post is not in the quota held by the Friends of Newin group as claimed, said the source.

Rifts over the allocation of cabinet seats in the faction are also emerging.

Chaiya Promma, a member of the Friends of Newin group, said the four ministers in the group's quota should be changed. The group should meet to discuss candidates for the cabinet posts.

"If the four ministers retain the seats, there will be problems. I call for changes so that we can compare their performance," he said, adding some MPs have been lobbying others to support them for cabinet portfolios.

A group of 40 PPP MPs, meanwhile, signed a petition to block Puea Pandin leader Suvit Khunkitti from joining the cabinet. Their move follows speculation he will be named industry minister.

PPP MP for Lop Buri Suchart Lainamngern, said the party MPs question Mr Suvit's loyalty, citing the Puea Pandin leader's pullout from the Samak Sundaravej government in late July.

Chaiyos Jiramethakarn, spokesman for the Puea Pandin party, shrugged off the campaign, saying the move did not create conflict, although it might have spoiled the atmosphere.

He also criticised the PPP for meddling in Puea Pandin's affairs.

PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang said Thursday that the PAD would continue its protest and would not negotiate with Mr Somchai.

Sondhi Limthongkul, another PAD core leader, said he would unveil the PAD's proposal for a new political order on Monday, and clear any questions over the issue.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said the group has agreed on three points — the protest will continue without any negotiations with the government, it will oppose constitution amendments and it will push for a new political order.

Following royal endorsement, Mr Somchai promised to work to achieve national reconciliation and unity.

Quoting Mr Chai, he said the King urged the quick formation of a new cabinet to tackle the country's problems.

He said the government expects to deliver its policy statement on Sept 25.