Minister:Thai PM is to be from election

BANGKOK, December 4 (TNA) - Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Varathep Rattanakorn, insists that a Thai prime minister must come from an election, pointing out that a proposal for a royally-appointed prime minister is not a national solution. In response to a proposal of Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee, for a royally-appointed prime minister under Section 7 of the Thai Constitution, Varathep, who is Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister concurrently, told journalists that a prime minister who comes from an election actually complies with the Thai Constitution. Varathep acknowledged that Suthep's proposal is unclear and Thailand has not reached an impasse where a royally appointed prime minister is necessary, saying that he believes most Thai people want a prime minister from an election and the matter should not bother His Majesty the King. Varathep noted that Premier Yingluck is ready to have all parties to discuss national solutions in public forums hosted by neutral and generally acceptable persons, not by the government, after royal ceremonies relating to His Majesty the King’s birthday on December 5. Regarding the proposal of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand for the prime minister to dissolve the House of Representatives, or resign to be succeeded by an impartial prime minister, Varathep maintained that the successor needs to be elected by the House and an outsider cannot constitutionally become a prime minister. Meanwhile, Thai Navy Chief Admiral Narong Pipatthanasai ruled out any possibility of a coup to solve the country’s problems, expressing his opinions that the domestic situation has not yet reached a dead end and there are ways out for both the government and anti-government protesters to discuss for an agreed solution. (TNA)