September 15, 2008
Bangkok - The leaders of the People Power Party (PPP) supported the ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat as a candidate for prime minister, according to PPP spokesman Kudeb Saikrajang.
The PPP will report its decision to the parliament at a meeting expected to begin at 2:00 pm.
"The executive committee has unanimously agreed to select Somchai, who is the acting prime minister, as the candidate for prime minister. He is a suitable candidate for this situation," he told reporters.
A vote on the new prime minister will take place on September 17.
A source at the PPP said that Somchai was a good choice as he was accepted by the coalition parties.
However, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced it would not welcome any PPP’s members to take the premier post though Samak Sundaravej already withdrew from competing for the post.
It was reported a new party named “Puathai” was already set up in case the PPP was disbanded.
