Thailand's NLA president, vice presidents elected

BANGKOK, August 8 (TNA) - Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members have unanimously elected Pornpetch Wichitcholchai as the NLA President and Surachai Liengboonlertchai, a former Senate speaker, as the NLA First Vice-President and Peerasak Porchit as the NLA Second Vice-President. At the first NLA meeting at Bangkok's Parliament building on Friday morning, there was no need for Pornpetch to display his vision, as there was no competitor contesting for the post and the NLA's 197 members unanimously elected him. Pornpetch also serves as a legal adviser to theThai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The NLA members later elected Surachai Liengboonlertchai and Peerasak Porchit as the NLA First and Second Vice Presidents respectively, with, again, no other candidates contesting for the two posts. Pornpetch later thanked the NLA members, promising that he will perform his duty by adhering to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s advice given during the inauguration of the NLA on August 7. In his speech, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn said that the NLA members should realise the importance of their duties and be fully committed to work together and to complete their duties scrupulously, correctly and quickly for the sake of national and public interests. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn also suggested that the congregation of the assembly heralds a good start for all NLA members to also work on drafting Thailand's new permanent Constitution and legislation to restore democracy, national stability and security. (TNA)