|
Bangkok: Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej disappeared from public view on Wednesday as his coalition debated whether to vote him back into office and opponents warned of chaos if he returns.
The Constitutional Court forced Samak to resign on Tuesday after finding him guilty of violating the constitution by receiving payment to host TV cooking shows while in office.
The ruling marked the first time in Thai history that a prime minister had to leave office by a court order.
The mood in Thailand remained tense on Wednesday as the court's decision appeared unlikely to end a political crisis over Samak's leadership seven months after he took office.
Anti-government protesters seized the prime minister's office compound August 26 to demand Samak's ouster and said they would remain camped there until they were certain he would not return.
Samak's six-party coalition was divided over whether to try to re-elect him when Parliament votes for a new prime minister Friday. The coalition initially threw its support behind Samak but then backtracked after an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
"Samak is one of our choices but nothing is final," Paichit Sriworakan, an official from Samak's People's Power Party told reporters. "The coalition partners have suggested finding an alternative person who is acceptable to all parties."
He said some coalition members felt that nominating Samak to replace himself was "not the best choice for the current political situation." The coalition was to hold a second round of talks later in the day.
The opposition Democrat Party warned that returning Samak to power would inflame the country's political crisis. "I am urging the coalition parties to rethink the idea of appointing Samak," said Suthep Thuagsuban, secretary-general of the Democrat Party. "You are fueling the fire in the country and it could lead to chaos."
|
