King names Sompong as opposition leader

By Kanistha Theppajorn
The Nation

 

 

Chiang Mai MP Sompong Amornvivat, head of the Pheu Thai Party, was on Wednesday appointed by royal decree official leader of the parliamentary opposition.

 

He used the occasion to confirm that the New Economics Party (NEP) remains a partner in the opposition coalition.

 

Attending the appointment ceremony at the Secretariat of the House of Representatives were MPs from other parties, including House speaker Chuan Leekphai and his deputies Suchart Tancharoen and Supachai Phosu.

 

Suchart presented Sompond with a bouquet of flowers and expressed hope he would serve as opposition leader for “as long as possible”.

 

Sompong said he was grateful for the royal appointment and would perform his duties to the best of his abilities.

 

“I will place the benefits of the country and people above all else, and I am willing to work with every party, not just the MPs of Pheu Thai,” he said.

 

Asked about some NEP MPs planning to jump from the opposition to the government coalition, Sompong said he had discussed the issue with others in opposition and found no problem. “Members of NEP are committed to remaining in the opposition coalition at the moment,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375123

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-21

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As I come from a very robust democracy, where leaders of government and opposition are changed on a fairly regular basis, I am somewhat puzzled by the need for the opposition leader to receive royal appointment. 

I understand government ministers and prime minister requiring royal appointment as they are "representatives  of the crown" and their actions are done in the name of the crown. Now the opposition are not acting in the name of the crown and as such do they need royal approval and appointment? It is a strange quirk of the Thai constitution?