HM King opens Thai parliament

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King presided over the official opening of the new session of the Thai parliament on Friday evening.

The gracious state ceremony, attended by newly-elected members of the House of Representatives, senators, privy councillors and foreign ambassadors, was held at the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall in Bangkok.

In his Royal speech to officially open the new session of the parliament, His Majesty the King advised that all the MPs perform their best duties in the parliament for the sake of the public and national benefits, with harmony, collaborative reconciliation honesty.

The first day of parliamentary business will be on 7 March when the MPs will elect the new House Speaker and two Deputies House Speaker.

Parliament’s most senior MP, the Democrat Marut Bunnak, will chair the initial the session in which MPs will be nominated for the new House Speaker and Deputies House Speaker positions.

The vote for the country's new prime minister will be handled by the new House Speaker after his appointment is officially endorsed by His Majesty the King in a Royal command.

It is expected that the vote for the new prime minister will be held at a House session on 9 March, as earlier scheduled, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam.

The ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT)’s landslide victory has guaranteed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra a second term of office.

He will announce his cabinet team later.

The new government will be the first one-party government in the history of Thai democracy.

--TNA 2005-03-04

The new government will be the first one-party government in the history of Thai democracy.

A one-party government doesn't necessarily have to be bad, but with kh Toxin at the helm....., doesn't seem that good.