Constitutional paralysis possible

BANGKOK: The Thai court ruling barred Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and many ministers from politics, but most rank-and-file People Power Party (PPP) MPs escaped the ban and are simply switching to Puea Thai (For Thailand), a "shell" party already lined up.

As long as the six-party ruling coalition led by the PPP/Puea Thai hangs together, as it is doing at the moment, it will easily have the parliamentary numbers needed to choose a new prime minister and thereby form the next administration.

The only problem will be getting parliament to convene.