Thailand to elect new Prime Minister on August 16
(VOVWORLD) - Thailand’s House of Representatives will meet on Friday to vote on a new prime minister following the court-ordered dismissal of Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sent a notice to all MPs on Wednesday evening, calling on them to convene at 10am on Friday.
 Prime minister candidate Chaikasem Nitisiri (Photo: Thaienquirer) |
Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong said the coalition led by the Pheu Thai party is still maintaining unity. The political parties in the coalition will soon meet to nominate a candidate for Thailand's 31st Prime Minister. Mr. Sorawong said that the Pheu Thai party, as the largest party in the coalition, has the right to nominate a candidate for Prime Minister from its own party. The party's two remaining prime ministerial candidates, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chaikasem Nitisiri, are ready to be nominated.
Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is scheduled to chair a meeting of the caretaker cabinet on Thursday to discuss how to proceed in the short term. Mr. Phumtham cut short an official trip to Kazakhstan and returned to Bangkok on Wednesday evening to discuss the next steps.
Earlier on the same day, Thailand’s Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office for an ethical violation. The Cabinet will remain in place on a caretaker basis until Parliament approves a new Prime Minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will serve as acting Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister can be selected by the House of Representatives.