Appointed Senate not allowed to nominate PM candidates: Thai gov't

Thai government on Wednesday rejected the idea of allowing the appointed Senate to join MPs in nominating candidates for prime minister after discussions.

This decision came after a joint meeting expected to end the uncertainty surrounding the issue of the Senate's power to help MPs select a prime minister among Thai Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

CDC spokesman Udom Rathamarit said only the Lower House is empowered to nominate PM candidates, while the Upper house will be eligible to vote with MPs to select the premier. Candidates would be picked from the lists proposed by political parties.

Surachai Liangboonlertchai, vice president of the NLA, said that all parties concurred that the appointed senators will have the right to propose an outsider as a candidate for the prime minister's post if the elected House members fail to select a prime minister from their parties' lists of candidates.

The CDC now needs to amend the draft charter in order to accommodate the additional question that was accepted along with the draft charter in the public referendum held on Aug 7. Besides, the Senate's role in selecting the premier has become controversial.

Under the draft charter, political parties are required to nominate PM candidates before a general election for the first five years after the charter comes into effect. The extra question allows the 250 appointed senators to join the 500 elected MPs in voting to select the prime minister. Endit