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Abhisit to bid public a farewell in TV address

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will appear in a television broadcast on Monday night to thank the public and bid them a farewell, a source from Government House source said yesterday.

Abhisit is scheduled to go to Government House on Monday to record his 20-minute address, which will be broadcast by the Television Pool of Thailand that same night.

Later in the day, the outgoing premier will share a special Cabinet meeting about the preparations for the funeral of Princess Bejaratana, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85.

In his final public address, Abhisit is expected to mention his government's work over the past two years and how determined he was to serve the country as prime minister, the source said.

According to the source, the premier, his deputies and PM's Office ministers will continue working until a new Cabinet is formed.

"As we wait for a royal command to open the new House of Representatives, we have a rough schedule of the new government, which should take over soon," a PM's Office staffer, who declined to be named, said.

"From August 1, the prime minister, his deputies and the PM's Office ministers will only go to Government House when necessary. This will allow officials to prepare the premises for the new government," the source said.

As part of the preparation, some key staff members from the PM's Office have tendered their resignation.

Government Spokesman Panitan Watanayagorn handed in his resignation on July 20, to take effect on August 1, while PM's secretary-general Anchalee Vanich Theppabutr quit on July 15.

"The current Cabinet will perform its duty until the new Cabinet is sworn in," the source said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-29