Thailand’s ruling party said yesterday it was considering candidates for prime minister, backing off a vow to return the job to Samak Sundaravej, who was forced out by a court over his TV cooking shows.
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday stripped Samak of his post as prime minister, saying he had illegally accepted payments for hosting two food programs.
The verdict added to the political turmoil in Thailand, which has seen protesters barricading the main government complex for more than two weeks and a state of emergency imposed across the capital Bangkok.
Judges did not ban Samak from politics, and his People Power Party (PPP) said immediately after the ruling that they would re-elect him as prime minister.
But after a key coalition partner voiced concern over restoring Samak to power, the party backed down and said it would consult its allies on possible candidates before a parliamentary vote set for tomorrow.
“For prime minister, we will consult again among PPP members in the next few days,” deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat told reporters after meeting with the Chart Thai party, the second-largest member of the coalition.
Opposition Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed creating a national unity government, with himself at the helm, but the idea has gained little traction.
Somchai, the most senior deputy in Samak’s Cabinet, is acting as a caretaker prime minister until a new chief is named.
His new role is certain to stoke Thailand’s political flames: Somchai is the brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup two years ago.
The protesters besieging the Government House compound first took to the streets against Thaksin nearly three years ago, accusing him of using his political office to enrich his multibillion-dollar telecom empire.
The military cited the corruption claims to justify their coup in 2006. Thaksin now lives in exile in Britain to dodge the legal charges, which he says are politically motivated.
A military-backed Constitution approved last year included strict limits on outside employment by government officials.
Judges have now used that charter to force Samak from office over the cooking programs that reportedly earned him no more than a few hundred dollars per show, which he said he used mainly to buy ingredients.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, yesterday held an equipment installation ceremony for its first 2-nanometer fab in Kaohsiung, six months ahead of schedule, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. “To cope with the strong global demand for advanced chips, TSMC is to start moving in equipment for its first-ever 2-nanometer fab half a year earlier than scheduled,” Chen said at an question-and-answer session at the Kaohsiung City Council. TSMC’s 2-nanometer process technology would help accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications as well as the transformation of local industries in Kaohsiung, Chen said in a
TEAM TAIWAN: While lawmakers proposed declaring Nov. 24 a national day, the CPBL commissioner urged the legislature to pass the budget for sports development Lawmakers yesterday proposed designating Nov. 24 as National Baseball Day and updating the design of the NT$500 bill to honor the national team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 championship on Sunday, as thousands of fans came out to see the players parade down the streets of Taipei. Players, coaches and staff from the national team returned home on Monday night after achieving their best-ever performance in an international baseball tournament. After receiving a rapturous welcome at the airport, the players turned out yesterday for a street parade in front of thousands of adoring fans waving Taiwanese flags and
RSS