PPP, five parties to form Thai coalition government

PPP, five parties to form Thai coalition government
BANGKOK, Jan 19 (TNA) – The People Power Party (PPP) and five smaller political parties Saturday jointly announced that they would form a coalition government, almost a month after a general election was held in Thailand.

Leaders and senior executives of the five smaller parties told a press conference, held at a Bangkok hotel, that they had decided to join the PPP-led coalition government in order to enable Thailand to move forward and to resolve crisis
facing the country.

Joining the PPP in the coalition government were the Chart Thai, Puea Pandin, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Pracharat and Matchimatipataya parties.

Their formal agreement to join the coalition government to be formed will leave the Democrat Party which gained second place in the election after the PPP to sit alone on the opposition bench in the 480-member House of representatives (Lower House).

PPP leader Samak Sundaravej told the press conference that the next step was that the first House meeting will be held Monday, which would be followed by the election of the speaker of the House of Representatives, the prime minister and appointments of cabinet ministers.

Thanking the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties for joining the coalition government, the 72-year-old Samak said the six-party coalition government which commanded 315 seats of the 480-seat total in the House would be strong enough to make a stable government and be able to solve the problems facing the country.

So far no discussions on ministerial portfolios have been reported by the leaders of the six parties, as they have to await the opening of the first session of the House, election of the House speaker and the prime minister before talks could be held, said Mr. Samak, who would become the new prime minister as his party swept most seats in the election.

Mr. Samak, however, sidestepped a reporter's question as to whether the leaders of the five parties joining the coalition would support him to become Thailands next prime minister, saying that: "The question shouldn't be posed and in accordance with the constitution, the prime minister is elected inside the House and not from this (hotel) room."

He said the cabinet line-up would become clearer in the next 15 days.

Apart from Mr. Samak, the key leaders appearing at the press conference were PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee, Chart Thai chief advisor Maj.Gen. Sanan Kachornprasart, Matchimatipataya represented by Secretary General Anongwan Thepsuthin, Pracharaj by its leader Sanoh Thienthong, Puea Paendin by leader Suwit Khunkitti and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Gen. Chetta Thanajaro.

Chart Thai leader Banhan Silpa-archa did not appear at the press conference. (TNA)-E003,E111


Political News :MCOT.COM: Last Update : 17:25:39 19 January 2551 (GMT+7:00)