King 'must endorse a PM first'

The coalition will not conclude a Cabinet until after the Palace has endorsed a new prime minister, Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said yesterday.

The People Power Party (PPP) said 35 ministerial posts would be allocated among the six coalition parties, based on one seat for every nine members of the House.

Banharn said the time was not right to talk about the line-up. It should wait until a prime minister has been elected.

The coalition will soon begin considering ministerial seats, but talks have not started, he said.

"The allocation could be one seat for every five or six members," Banharn said.

The House will vote on a new prime minister tomorrow. People Power leader Samak Sundaravej is expected to win. The Cabinet is set for royal endorsement next week.

Banharn said the first Cabinet meeting would be held after the Lunar New Year, or after February 10.

In a secret ballot to elect the House speaker on Tuesday, it appears three coalition members voted for Democrat Banyat Bantadtan and six coalition members backed Democrat Kalaya Sophonpanich for deputy.

Banharn said he "did not know" if he was one of the defectors.

The House Speaker-elect Yongyuth Tiyapairat yesterday was dressed in full uniform as he prepared to be endorsed by His Majesty the King.

However, as 10 PPP MPs had plans to congratulate him the group learned later in the afternoon that His Majesty the King had not endorsed him for the position, as his appointment was had only been submitted for royal endorsement yesterday afternoon.

The group will meet again this morning.

Yongyuth also had to cancel his plan to pay respects to sacred beings at Parliament yesterday.

The Nation