Thai Parliament To Vote In New PM

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Thai parliament to vote in first female PM

BANGKOK, August 5, 2011 (AFP) - Yingluck Shinawatra is poised to become politically-turbulent Thailand's first female prime minister on Friday after riding to election glory on the coat-tails of her fugitive brother.

Members of the country's newly formed parliament are due to elect Yingluck, whose Puea Thai party and its partners command a three-fifths majority in the lower house, in a vote on Friday morning.

After her selection by lawmakers, the country's 28th prime minister can expect royal endorsement within days to formalise her position.

She will face the immediate challenge of bringing stability to the kingdom, after five years of political turmoil since her brother Thaksin Shinawatra was thrown out of office in a 2006 army coup backed by Thailand's elites.

"We are still in the middle of a very big conflict in the country with very different ideas about what government should be, and what it should be doing," said Thai political analyst Chris Baker.

Analysts believe a key test for Yingluck will simply be whether she can hang on to power in a country where the removal of leaders is commonplace.

Thailand has seen 18 actual or attempted military coups since it became a constitutional monarchy in 1932 and only one prime minister in that time has served a full four-year term -- Thaksin.

Yingluck, described by her brother as his "clone", surprised observers with her assured campaign style, helping her party to a crushing win in the July 3 election.

She has since consolidated her parliamentary dominance by forming a six-party coalition that accounts for 300 of the legislature's 500 seats.

The fresh-faced political newcomer replaces outgoing Democrat prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose establishment-friendly party limped to a distant second in the poll.

Baker said her parliamentary majority -- along with the weakened state of the nationalist and anti-Thaksin "Yellow Shirt" protest movement and a lack of public support for the army -- will give Yingluck "breathing room".

She is however, expected to face pressure from the "Red Shirts", many of whom support Thaksin for his populist policies during his 2001-2006 rule.

The movement, which has key representatives in Yingluck's party, will expect justice over its April and May rallies last year that ended with a military assault and more than 90 people dead.

Yingluck's vote-grabbing promises, such as a minimum wage hike and higher rice prices for farmers, have also come under scrutiny, with the Bank of Thailand warning they could stoke inflation.

Abhisit addressed the nation for the last time as acting prime minister on Thursday evening, defending his economic credentials and expressing hope that the move to a new government can help end political conflict in the country.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-05

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Feminine touch for PM's office

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

The PM's office is getting more feminine touches to welcome Thailand's first-ever woman premier, a Government House official said yesterday.

Parada Thenbumrung, the PM's deputy secretary-general in charge of the venue and protocol, said the PM's office in Thai Ku Fah Building was ready to welcome the new prime minister. However, the office itself needed to be redecorated, with more feminine touches and a new pink and white colour scheme.

Parada said he had already asked Yingluck Shinawatra's staff if she wanted any particular changes to the room, but he has yet to receive an answer.

"Besides, the outgoing PM Abhisit [Vejjajiva] is still working [in the room]," he said.

Abhisit is scheduled to hold a farewell meeting with government officials and media today.

Parada said he had come up with the colour scheme after hearing about the plan to renovate a room at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters, where she will accept the royal command for her appointment as PM.

A source from Government House said Yingluck's staff had told Government House officials that she preferred the colours white, pink and green.

Like her male predecessors, Yingluck will wear a white uniform and prostrate before the portrait of His Majesty the King in a ceremony to accept the royal command.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Yingluck in as the next premier today.

-- The Nation 2011-08-05

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Vote on PM to take two hours: Somsak

House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont on Friday said he expected the vote to elect the prime minister would take two hours to complete because every MP had to cast vote in the roll-call.

The House is to convene at 10.00 am. And Pheu Thai MP Snoh Thienthong is scheduled to advance the motion to nominate Yingluck Shinawatra as prime minister.

Somsak will then initiate the endorsement process, calling for a minimum of 100 MPs to back the motion.

Following the endorsement of motion, Somsak will proceed to the next step by instructing House secretary general to read out the name of each MP to cast vote.

Bhum Jai Thai Party has instructed its 37 MPs to abstain. The Democrat Party will not contest the race.

Yingluck is likely to be installed as prime minister before noon. And the royal command on prime ministerial appointment should be issued by the evening.

-- The Nation 2011-08-05

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Parliament is now convening to vote for the new PM. /via@ThanongK

House has commenced vote for PM; Sanoh to nominate Yingluck; vote to be open vote via roll call /TAN_Network

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House Session Kicks Off to Vote for Next Prime Minister

The newly elected House of Representatives has started its session. On the agenda this morning is the election of a new prime minister. Pheu Thai's Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to be nominated without any other contender.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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Of all the 500 MPs, 489 have showed up at Parliament to vote for the new PM. /via@ThanongK

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Chuwit Kamolvisit is protesting over the seating of his Rak Prathet Thai Party in Parliament. /via@ThanongK

There are 493 MPs now, out of 500./via@ThanongK

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First Female PM Expected to be Selected Today

Pheu Thai Party will name Yingluck Shinnawatra as the next prime minister today.

In addition, the PM-in-waiting insists ousted PM Thaksin Shinnawatra will not intervene in the forming of the cabinet.

The first Pheu Thai MP meeting reached a consensus to nominate Number 1 party-list Yingluck Shinnawatra to be the next PM today.

Yingluck thanked her supporters, promising that she will dedicate herself to her work.

She asked all party members to put their strongest effort into their work.

The Pheu Thai executive board urges its members to arrive at the House meeting tomorrow on time.

Previously, politicians have typically been late to arrive at the meetings.

Yingluck said in an interview that the formation of the new cabinet will take place in Thailand.

She strongly noted that the Shinnawatra family will not intervene in the nation's politics.

Meanwhile, she said the ministerial posts will be assigned appropriately so the red-shirt key leader can be given a position.

Although the last cabinet assignment has not been finalized yet, Yingluck said she already has the names of those who will be in charge of economics and security.

However, she declined to reveal the names.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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What the hell is Chuwit up to now...again...?! The item he has given to the House speaker was a (rubber) hammer...! /via@Saksith:

House speaker repeatedly orders Chuwit to sit down and shut up. //via@Saksith:

Chuvit intent on discussing seating with House speaker causing delay in vote; 4 recently-endorsed MPs, including Jatuporn, give oath /TAN_Network

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House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont is now trying to calm Chuwit, who has become out of control now. /

House Speaker has ordered the authorities to escort Chuwit out of the Parliament chamber. /

A security officer now approaches Chuwit to escort him out of the chamber. /

Chuwit agrees to sit down./

/via@ThanongK

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Chuwit is ordered to leave the chamber. he will miss voting for the new PM. /via@ThanongK

House speaker has now evicted Chuwit from the parliament, after being stubborn for the last 10 minutes, all b/c of the seats /via@Saksith

First political casualty of new Thai admin: Chuvit Kamolvisit. Escorted out the chamber after carping about his party's seating arrangement /via@Anusuya

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Haha what's up with that loon Chuwit?

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Snoh Thienthong, party list of Pheu Thai, now stands up to nominate Yingluck Shinawatra as new PM. /via@ThanongK

Sanoh says he's ready to nominate Yingluck for Minister of Interior -- then realises mistake. /via@terryfrd

Sanoh nominates Yingluck Shinawatra as 28th prime minister of Thailand /TAN_Network

Instead of showing hands, people are pushing buttons in order to confirm Yingluck's nomination process. /via@Saksith

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Yingluck received 294 votes in support of her nomination, more than the required 1/5 of the House; now can proceed to vote her in as PM /TAN_Network

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House speaker orders Chuwit out of chamber

By The Nation

House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont on Friday instructed security guards to remove opposition MP Chuwit Kamolvisit on grounds for violating House rules

Chuwit's removal marred the proceedings on the vote to elect Yingluck Shinawatra as prime minister.

In opening the floor for consultation ahead of the vote, Chuwit aired his complaint about the seating arrangment.

Somsak ruled to defer the complaint for the next session. But Chuwit insisted on speaking but standing up despite Somsak's order for him to sit down.

The House speaker ruled that Chuwit had violated the rules by standing to protest but using the occasion to complain.

Chuwit refused to comply with the ruling, prompting the speaker's instruction for his removal. As two guards arrived to escort him out, he greeted them and sit down. This led to protest by Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai who said the removal must be carried out to completion.

Chuwit then walked out of the chamber under the guards' escort.

As the vote was called, the House speaker invited him to re-enter the chamber to cast his vote.

-- The Nation 2011-08-05

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Yingluck voted: "Abstain". Doesn't she want the top job for herself? /via@ThanongK

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What the hell is Chuwit up to now...again...?! The item he has given to the House speaker was a (rubber) hammer...! /via@Saksith:

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Purachai Piemsomboon, who formed Thai Rak Thai Party, with Thaksin voted: "Abstain". Oh, that's painful. Purchai is now with Rak Santi. /via@ThanongK

MPs voting "agree" or "disagree" or "abstain". But Democrat Watchara Petthong voted "I can't possibly agree". /via@tulsathit

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Outgoing deputy PM Suthep Thuangsuban (Dem), abstains - 420 MPs now /via@Saksith

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The formality will take a while longer, but congrats to Yingluck, whose fairy-tale ends today and real life begins. /via@tulsathit

Dr Weng casts his vote for Yingluck. /via@terryfrd

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Abhisit just voted: "Abstain". What else? /via@ThanongK

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Yingluck Shinawatra Voted In As First Female Thai Prime Minister

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