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Thai coalition looking for new PM Thai coalition looks for new PM
(40 minutes later)
Thailand's coalition has met to decide who should replace Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a day after he was stripped of office by the Constitutional Court. Thailand's political parties are meeting to discuss who should replace Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a day after he was stripped of office.
He has not been seen in public since it was ruled he broke the rules by getting paid to host a TV cookery show. Mr Samak has not been seen since the Constitutional Court ruled he broke the law by appearing on a TV cookery show.
Parliament is due to elect 73-year-old Mr Samak's successor on Friday.Parliament is due to elect 73-year-old Mr Samak's successor on Friday.
His People Power Party (PPP), the biggest in the six-member coalition, appeared to back away from an earlier pledge to re-nominate him as PM.His People Power Party (PPP), the biggest in the six-member coalition, appeared to back away from an earlier pledge to re-nominate him as PM.
"What the party spokesman said yesterday was not the party's resolution. Our resolution is the next prime minister must come from the People Power Party," Reuters news agency quoted finance minister and PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee as saying."What the party spokesman said yesterday was not the party's resolution. Our resolution is the next prime minister must come from the People Power Party," Reuters news agency quoted finance minister and PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee as saying.
'Fuel the fire''Fuel the fire'
The second-largest of the coalition partners, the Chart Thai Party, said the PPP should not re-nominate Mr Samak. Now that the dust has settled after the Constitutional Court's astonishing decision on Tuesday, the bargaining has begun, according to the BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head.
Party factions have been holding meetings throughout the day; some have been in contact with the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is still influential because of his continued financial support.
POLITICAL CRISIS 26 Aug: Protesters occupy government buildings, demand the government step down28 Aug: PM Samak promises no use of force against the protesters30 Aug: Samak rules out resignation, after meeting with Thailand's king 1 Sept: A late-night clash between pro- and anti-government groups leaves one dead. Samak declares a state of emergency4 Sept: Samak proposes a national referendum9 Sept: Court orders Samak to resign for violating constitution Q&A: Bangkok protestsPOLITICAL CRISIS 26 Aug: Protesters occupy government buildings, demand the government step down28 Aug: PM Samak promises no use of force against the protesters30 Aug: Samak rules out resignation, after meeting with Thailand's king 1 Sept: A late-night clash between pro- and anti-government groups leaves one dead. Samak declares a state of emergency4 Sept: Samak proposes a national referendum9 Sept: Court orders Samak to resign for violating constitution Q&A: Bangkok protests
Chart Thai's leader, Banharn Silpa-Archa - who as prime minister a decade ago presided over a currency collapse that triggered an Asian economic crisis - told Reuters he had ruled himself out. The PPP insists any replacement for Mr Samak must come from within its ranks, but its coalition partners are angling to get one of their own into the seat.
The mood in Thailand was tense on Wednesday as the governing coalition met a day after Mr Samak became the first Thai PM to be stripped of office by a court order. The second-largest of the partners, the Chart Thai Party, said the PPP should not re-nominate Mr Samak.
Suthep Thuagsuban, secretary-general of the Democrat Party, told AP news agency that re-appointing Mr Samak would only "fuel the fire in the country and it could lead to chaos". But Chart Thai's leader, Banharn Silpa-Archa - who as prime minister a decade ago presided over a currency collapse that triggered an Asian economic crisis - told Reuters he had ruled himself out.
For the past two weeks, the Thai government has been paralysed by thousands of protesters who have occupied its headquarters, demanding Mr Samak quit. The opposition Democrats are proposing a new government of national unity as the best way out of the crisis - with the clear hint that their party leader should get the job.
The demonstrators said they would continue to besiege Government House, while waiting to see who parliament selects as the new prime minister.
Bangkok dangerous?Bangkok dangerous?
Protesters accuse Mr Samak of being a proxy for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in an army coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. For the past two weeks, the Thai government has been paralysed by thousands of protesters who have occupied its headquarters, demanding Mr Samak quit.
Protesters are still laying siege to Government House They accuse him of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in an army coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power.
The demonstrators said they would continue to besiege Government House while waiting to see who parliament selects as the new prime minister.
They have already warned that they will continue their protests if Mr Samak or anyone else closely associated with Mr Thaksin is chosen.
The caretaker administration has anticipated the continued protests by proposing that ministers move their offices to the old international airport.
Deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat is acting as a caretaker prime minister until the new premier is named.Deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat is acting as a caretaker prime minister until the new premier is named.
Protesters are still laying siege to Government House Correspondents say his new role could fan Thailand's political flames as he is the brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin.
But correspondents say his new role could fan Thailand's political flames as he is the brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin.
Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again as prime minister.
A self-proclaimed foodie, he hosted a popular TV cooking show, Tasting and Grumbling, for seven years before becoming PM and continued to present the programme for two months after taking office.
The court ruled on Tuesday that the prime minister's television starring role had breached a constitutional bar on private employment while in office.
Thailand's political tensions boiled over in bloodshed last week, when a man was killed in clashes between pro and anti-government groups in Bangkok.