Thai ruling party names its leader, daughter of ex-PM, for top job

Bangkok [Thailand], August 16: Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai party has announced that it will nominate party head Paetongtarn Shinawatra for the post of prime minister during an extraordinary session of parliament on Friday.
The announcement, made on Thursday, follows the dismissal of Srettha Thavisin by the Thai Constitutional Court.
Paetongtarn, 37, is the daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the niece of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. If appointed, Paetongtarn would be the country's second female prime minister.
Observers in Bangkok were taken by surprise by the announcement, as former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri, 75, had been seen as the most likely candidate with a view to re-establishing stability in the country. But there has also been speculation that he is not in the best of health.
Srettha, 62, was deposed on Wednesday after less than a year in office following legal action by 40 senators. They accused him of appointing Pichit Chuenban as minister in contravention of rules, which prevent appointments to people with criminal records. The court ruled in the senators' favour.
Pichit was sentenced to six months' in prison in 2008 for contempt of court in a bribery scandal. He had already resigned in May in the wake of increasing pressure.
Thaksin, a billionaire, returned to Thailand in August last year after self-imposed exile since 2008.
Source: Qatar Tribune