Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Thai PPP to renominate Samak as PM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-11 15:46

BANGKOK -- Only two days after the Constitution Court of Thailand ruled Samak Sundaravej to step down as the prime minister, the ruling People Power Party on Thursday decided to renominate him again during Friday's Parliament voting.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat (R), who was appointed as acting PM by the caretaker government, walks at the Supreme Command Headquarters in Bangkok September 10, 2008. [Agencies]

On Thursday, the PPP, which led by Samak, held an urgent meeting to choose a candidate who is to contest the premier post in Friday's voting in the House of Representatives.

After the meeting which finished after noon, a spokesman of the PPP told reporters that the party's Parliament members voted unanimously to give Samak another chance to contest the post.

The Constitution Court on Tuesday ruled Samak violates the charter by hosting cooking shows on TV programs after he took the premiership in January. The ruling means Samak's premiership is also revoked.

However, the spokesman said the mistake of Samak on cooking programs did not damage the country's interest. So, it was only tiny mistakes and will not conflict with the re-contest qualification of Samak.

Samak on Thursday morning visited a fresh market near his residence, refusing to reply any question of reporters.