PM Banharn faces first big test

PM Banharn faces first big test

BANGKOK (Reuter): New Thai prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa
faced yesterday his first major parliamentary test in a debate
over an opposition bill to amend the constitution and relieve him
of the power to appoint senators.

The crucial bill proposes to hand over power to appoint
senators to the 260-member military-dominated upper house to a
selection committee for collective decision-making.

This is also the first big showdown between the seven-party
coalition government, which controls 233 seats in the 391-seat
lower house, and the opposition since Banharn came to power about
three months ago.

Banharn's government was expected to put up a strong fight
against the bill proposed by the main opposition Democrat Party
led by former premier Chuan Leekpai, political sources said.

The term of incumbent senators in the upper house, appointed
by military coup leaders in February 1991, is due to expire next
March.