THAI PARLIAMENT MEETS TO ELECT NEW PREMIER

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The Thai Parliament meets today in a special
session to elect the country's 27th prime minister as lawmakers try to end the
political deadlock and install the fifth premier in 27 months.

British born Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the Democrat Party and
current opposition chief, is the leading candidate as several smaller parties
from the previous six-party coalition government have decided to support the
44-year-old Oxford graduate.

But Abhisit's passage to the country's top seat is not smooth as Pheu Thai,
successor to the dissolved ruling People's Power Party (PPP), is backing former
police chief and Puea Pandin leader Pracha Phromnok.

PPP, formed by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after
his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) was dissolved by the Constitution Court in 2007,
received a similar fate early this month which led to the disqualification of
prime minister and Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat.

The Democrat has 167 members of parliament (MPs), and has secured for the
time being support from former members of Chart Thai (13 MPs) and Matchima
Thipataya (nine), as well as from Ruamjai Thai (eight) and several members of
Puea Pandin.

The Thai Parliament has 480 members, but currently there are only 438 MPs
after the dissolution of PPP, Chart Thai and Matchima by the court and their
executive members banned for five years. A candidate needs at least 220 votes to
win the poll.

Despite having about 200 MPs in their ranks, Pheu Thai is supporting a
candidate from other parties to avoid another conflict with anti-Thaksin group.

The Kingdom has been in political and economic turmoil since
anti-government
protesters hit the street on May 25, and subsequently seized the Prime
Minister's Office on Aug 26 before closing down Bangkok's two major airports
end of last month.

In September, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was disqualified by the Court
for paid appearences in television cooking show, and was replaced by Somchai who
lasted less than three months.
-- BERNAMA