Somchai gets the nod

The ruling People Power party (PPP) picked acting premier Somchai Wongsawat as its official candidate as prime minister as expected on Monday - but not unanimously.
The executive committee of the PPP agreed to nominate Mr Somchai when parliament meets on Wednesday. Various committees still have to meet, but the five coalition partner-parties also said they were on board with Mr Somchai.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), of course, rejected the nomination and vowed to continue their protest. Anyone from PPP or other coalition parties is unacceptable, the anti-governmnent group said.
But more serious opposition came from inside PPP.
"Friends of Newin" Chidchob, the banned but still powerful Thai Rak Thai party executive, threatened to break the party's ranks and vote for caretaker deputy prime minister and finance minister Surapong Suebwonglee on Wednesday, instead of Mr Somchai.
The Friends of Newin held their own press conference on Monday, calling for the party to reconsider its resolution to nominate deputy leader and acting PM Somchai.
The group presented the signatures of 73 MPs who support this stance.
This same group supported the selection of disqualified prime minister Samak Sundaravej back as premier, but now that he has declined the nomination, they've switched to support deputy leader Md Surapong as PM.
Songsak Thongsri, a key figure of Newin’s Friends faction in PPP, stated that Md Surapong is the most suitable person and is capable of running the country.
Caretaker agriculture and cooperatives minister and deputy leader of Chart Thai party Somsak Prissanananthakul stated that his party members will vote in support of the PM candidate proposed by the ruling PPP.
Caretaker natural resources and environment minister and Matchima Thipataya party leader Anongwan Thepsuthin also said her party will support the person nominated by PPP as the next prime minister.

credit : BangkokPost.com