Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej sits before judges at the Constitutional Court in Bangkok September 8, 2008. Thailand's Constitutional Court will rule on Tuesday whether Samak violated the constitution by hosting television cooking shows while in office, a judge said on Monday.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
BANGKOK, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's People Power
Party (PPP), the core of the six-party coalition government, will call an urgent
meeting with its coalition partners on Wednesday to renominate Samak Sundaravej
as prime minister, according to the party's deputy leader Kan Thiankaew.
Kan made the remarks on Tuesday after the
Constitution Court earlier on the day ruled that Samak was in violation of the
supreme law for conflict of interests by hosting two paid TV cooking shows, thus
disqualified Samak as prime minister immediately.
If Samak turns down the nomination, said Kan, the PPP
would propose an alternate candidate.
But he dismissed some media speculation that Banharn
Silapa-archa, the leader of PPP's coalition partner Chart Thai Party, would be a
candidate for the replacement.
Banharn, a weathered politician in Thailand, also
denied on Tuesday that he would succeed Samak as the new premier.
Tuesday's court verdict required the step-down of
Samak and the whole cabinet. But the Cabinet is allowed to act as the caretaker
government pending the formation of a new one.
The PPP has also indicated that it would push for a
quick vote at the House of Representatives to reinstall Samak in office by
Friday, if possible.
But House Speaker Chai Chidchob on Tuesday expressed
uncertainty about the date, by saying that under the parliamentary rules, MPs
need to be notified about the vote three days in advance.
BANGKOK, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Constitution Court
of Thailand on Tuesday ruled the Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samak
Sundaravej violates the charter by hosting cooking shows on TV programs after he
took the premiership in January. The ruling means Samak's premiership is
revoked.
The court voted unanimously to give a guilty verdict
against Samak and disqualified him as the prime minister. Full story
BANGKOK, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister
Samak Sundaravej on Monday morning testified to the Constitution Court to defend
himself regarding his hosting of a television cooking program, for which he is
accused of violating the Constitution.
Samak had hosted television cooking shows on a commercial
television station in the past and continued after taking office in February
this year. Full story
