Several parties discuss national solutions with Thai Senate

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) - The Thai Senate has invited representatives of 13 parties to discuss solutions to the ongoing domestic political deadlock. At least nine parties participated in the discussion at the Parliament building in Bangkok on Wednesday, including the Supreme Court, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), the Election Commission of Thailand (EC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC), the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). However, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Constitutional Court, the Office of the Attorney General and the Thai Bankers' Association did not show up at the discussion. Before the discussion, Acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai told journalists that the Senate would consider findings from Wednesday's forum on Friday, and that the Upper House also plans to gather opinions from other parties, including the caretaker government. Updated reports said on Wednesday evening that the acting Senate speaker left the forum before the discussion ended without giving any interview, while a group of a few senators later told a press conference that the participating parties agreed on a 6-12 month interim government to handle a national reform and then the new general election in order to bring the domestic political situation into normalcy, with the Senate playing its key roles in solving national problems.(TNA)