Meechai and deputies get King's nod
His Majesty the King endorsed Meechai Ruchuphan on Wednesday as speaker of National Legislative Assembly (NLA), it was announced yesterday.
His Majesty also endorsed Charan Kullavanijaya and Potjanee Thanavaranit as first and second deputy speakers, respectively. Meechai said the NLA's second meeting would be held today to discuss three urgent issues: the schedule; appointing a special committee to draft the assembly's regulations; and appointing special committees to select NLA committee members. The government will announce its policies on Friday Nov 3 - rather than November 2 as planned - because Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is scheduled to visit the southern provinces on that day. Meechai dismissed allegations of bloc voting and lobbying in the selection of the NLA committee members and chairmen. "I have been working in the House [of Representatives] for more than 10 years, and I just can't see how that could happen. Since my days as Senate speaker I have never seen such a practice,'' he said. If too many members want to join NLA panels, they may have to draw lots, he said.
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