BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) – The most senior MP-elect Chai
Chidchob has agreed to be acting speaker for the first parliament session
expected next week.
Sorasak Pienvej, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives,
revealed on Thursday that in a meeting with the Secretariat Chai accepted the
proposal, taking the role in the inaugural meeting in which the MPs select the
Speaker.
But the date for the first session could not be confirmed
because it must be held after the MPs as well as Senators were sworn-in, he
said.
Chai, 91, is a key figure of Bhumjaithai Party who began his
political career 62 years ago and has held many legislative positions including
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
After a house speaker is selected, then Parliament will hold
a session to vote for the next prime minister.
Any prime minister candidate nominated in the parliamentary process must
receive at least 376 votes out of 500 MPs and 250 senators.
The pro-junta Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), who nominates
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime minister candidate, has
reportedly secured sufficient MPs to form a coalition government.
But PPRP Secretary Sonthirat Sonthijirawongse rejected the
report suggesting the medium-sized parties – Bhumjaithai and Democrat – had
joined its camp.
He said PPRP had not made formal deal with the two parties
but everything took gradual steps. At
present, the PPRP would like to congratulate the new leader of the Democrat
Party, Sonthirat said.
Jurin Laksanawisit who won a party vote to become the 8th
leader of the Democrat Party on Wednesday said the party’s members and
executive had not made any decision and would discuss about its political
stance under new executive board.
Thailand’s oldest political party suffered a big loss losing
many seats in its political strongholds in the March 24 election, leading to
resignation of Abhisit Vejjajiva from the party’s leadership.
Like Abhisit and many influential members, Jurin in the past
hinted he would not support Prayut to become the next civilian prime minister.
With 52 MPs, the undecided Democrat Party will play a key
decisive role in government formation.
Bhumjathai, meanwhile, has said it would hold a meeting of
its MPs on Monday to discuss its stance.(TNA)
