by Weena Kowitwanij

Opposition asks King Bhumibol to appoint new prime minister, but the monarch states the responsibility lies with the Supreme Court and the other courts of the country.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej has rejected the opposition call to appoint a new prime minister after the resignation of Thaksin Shinawatra, declaring that the courts, not the sovereign, must sort out the situation and decide how parliament, which was dissolved on February 24, should get back into business. The king met with the members of the Supreme Court before it started to examine the outcome of the elections and the ways to restore normal government.

"Appealing to Section 7 to ask me to appoint the prime minister is not correct," the king said. "Section 7 says: 'Whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice'. In this case, it is the duty of the Supreme Court and other courts to examine the case and decide how to solve the problem in ways that respect true democracy. In saying this I do not mean that the current government is not capable [to do so], but in a true democracy there cannot be only one party to vote for".

In some districts opposition boycott allowed former Prime Minister Thaksin's party to run unopposed.

"The presence of one candidate of a single party is not internationally acceptable, nor is it correct or democratic. The members of the Supreme Court should decide what the appropriate solution that respects democratic rules is. Otherwise the country would be brought to total ruin".

King Bhumibol Adulyadej added that he had no intention of assuming direct control of the executive.

• thailand
• king
• bhumibol
• adulyadej
• former
• primer
• minister
• thaksin
• shinawatra
• supreme
• court
• constitution
• crisis