New Thai speaker not govt choice

Wed, 02 Aug 2000 | Source: AP

BANGKOK (AP): A former government official was elected on Tuesday as Speaker of Thailand's Senate, defeating a candidate backed by the Democrat party of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.

Sanit Vorapanya, a former director-general of the Department of Export Promotion, was elected with 115 votes against 83 for Manoonkrit Roopkachorn, his sole remaining rival in a second round of voting.

Sanit is believed to be close to the newly-formed Thai Rak Thai party, which is expected to mount a strong challenge to the Democrats in a general election which must be held by the end of the year.

This Senate is the first elected one in more than six decades of constitutional rule. The Senate was made an elected body under a reformist constitution designed to foster greater democracy.

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