Thailand's government to nominate Somchai as PM

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-16 23:05

BANGKOK -- The six political parties in Thailand's caretaker government on Tuesday announced their decision to retain their coalition in forming a new government, and to nominate acting prime minister Somchai Wongsawat as new premier for Wednesday's parliament voting.

Leaders or representatives of the six parties held a press conference, chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Somchai and Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, both from the leading People Power Party (PPP), at a Bangkok hotel Tuesday evening to make the announcement.

Somchai said he was ready to become prime minister to head a government that works for the benefit of people and nation. He thanked the parties for supporting him.

The nomination of Somchai is expected to be presented to the House of Representatives for a voting on Wednesday.

The House voting was postponed to Wednesday from last Friday after fractions of PPP, and the other smaller five coalition parties voiced opposition to the PPP's earlier decision to reinstall disqualified premier Samak Sundaravej as prime minister.

Samak, also PPP leader, was disqualified as premier by a Constitutional Court verdict on September 9, which found him in breach of the charter by hosting TV cooking shows while in office. The cabinet was required to step down, too but stayed on as a caretaker one pending a new premier to form another government.

Somchai, as first deputy prime minister, was then appointed as acting premier to head the caretaker government.

At Tuesday's press conference, Baharn Silpa-archa, leader of Chart Thai (Thai Nation) Party, the second-biggest party in the PPP-led coalition government, said the other five parties would not object to the PPP's nomination for the premiership if only the candidate is moderate, capable of solving the country's problems and ready to put national interest and unity at first place.