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.