Yingluck elected prime minister
Pheu Thai Party list MP Yingluck Shinawatra was elected Thailand's 28th prime minister by a majority vote in the House of Representatives on Friday morning.
A total of 296 MPs voted in support of Ms Yingluck, the country’s first female prime minister, while three Democrat MPs voted against her, with 197 abstentions - including Ms Yingluck, the new speaker and one of his deputies, and most members of the main opposition parties, the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties, and the four members of the Rak Thailand Party led by Chuvit Kamolvisit.
The three Democrat lawmakers who voted against Ms Yingluck were Boonyod Sukthinthai, Watchara Phetthong and Attaporn Ponlaboot.
The four MPs who did not attend the House meeting today were Ratchadaporn Kaewsanit, Khanchit Thapsuwan, Yukol Chanawatpanya and Sathit Pitutaecha, all Democrats.
The four MPs who did not attend the House meeting today were Ratchadaporn Kaewsanit, Khanchit Thapsuwan, Yukol Chanawatpanya and Sathit Pitutaecha, all Democrats.
The meeting to elect the new prime minister started about 10am, chaired by House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.
When the agenda moved to the election of the prime minister, Pheu Thai list MP Sanoh Thienthong proposed Ms Yingluck for the position. The nomination was supported by 294 MPs.
The youngest sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin was the only candidate. The opposition did not nominate a candidate for the top job.
"Ms. Yingluck gained more than half of the votes, therefore I declare that Ms Yingluck has been voted in as the new prime minister by members of the House of Representatives," the speaker declared and announced the closure of the meeting.
Mr Somsak will submit the result to His Majesty the King for royal appointment. Until then, Ms Yingluck remains prime minister-elect.
Before the voting began, Rak Thailand Party leader Chuvit stood up to protest against the seat allocation in the House.
The former massage parlour tycoon-turned-politician complained to House Speaker Somsak that the general public might not be able to see his party members when televised because the seats for his four party-members were at the back of the chamber.
"The constitution does not state that political parties with fewer votes have to sit at the back.
"I have already sent a letter to the House secretary asking for a seat change, but it was rejected," Mr Chuvit said.
Mr Somsak told the Rak Thailand leader that the issue would be discussed at the next meeting but Mr Chuvit continued arguing.
The House speaker then instructed him to take a seat but he still refused.
Mr Chuvit immediately took a seat after Mr Somsak ordered security personnel to escort him out of the room.
However, Mr Chuvit was escorted out after Democrat MP Boonyod reminded Mr Somsak that House regulations requires an MP to leave the meeting room when security personnel have been summoned by a speaker to escort that particular MP out of the room. He was allowed back in to vote.
The former massage parlour tycoon-turned-politician complained to House Speaker Somsak that the general public might not be able to see his party members when televised because the seats for his four party-members were at the back of the chamber.
"The constitution does not state that political parties with fewer votes have to sit at the back.
"I have already sent a letter to the House secretary asking for a seat change, but it was rejected," Mr Chuvit said.
Mr Somsak told the Rak Thailand leader that the issue would be discussed at the next meeting but Mr Chuvit continued arguing.
The House speaker then instructed him to take a seat but he still refused.
Mr Chuvit immediately took a seat after Mr Somsak ordered security personnel to escort him out of the room.
However, Mr Chuvit was escorted out after Democrat MP Boonyod reminded Mr Somsak that House regulations requires an MP to leave the meeting room when security personnel have been summoned by a speaker to escort that particular MP out of the room. He was allowed back in to vote.
Outside the parliament, about 100 supporters of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship celebrated after learning that Ms Yingluck has been elected the new premier.
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