Thai coalition collapses, elections expected

Thai coalition collapses, elections expected

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's coalition government has collapsed, and Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is expected to announce snap elections in the coming weeks.

The New Aspiration Party (NAP), second-largest member of Chuan's five-party coalition, announced late Thursday it was leaving the government after abandoning the coalition in a crucial vote in parliament earlier in the day.

Chuan will remain at the head of a minority government for the time being, but is likely to be forced to dissolve parliament and call new elections to avoid a censure debate in an upcoming special session of the legislature.

The opposition and the military-dominated Senate Thursday submitted a motion carrying more than enough signatures to schedule an extraordinary session to follow the normal close of parliament on Dec. 19.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index was down 40 points shortly after the morning trading session opened yesterday, due both to the political news and to a sharp drop on Wall Street, financial analysts said.

Chuan has not entirely ruled out asking an opposition party to join the ruling coalition, government spokesman Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday, but Abhisit said he believed dissolution of parliament was more likely.

Chuan intended to see important pending legislation through parliament this month before making a decision on "what is the best solution for the Thai political system," Abhisit told reporters.

Senior officials in Chuan's Democrat Party, which campaigned in September 1992 for a government cleanup, said privately that Chuan was reluctant to bring opposition politicians with a less than sterling image into the coalition.

Some commentators pointed with concern to the resurgence of senators closely linked to the National Peacekeeping Council, the military junta in power before the 1992 elections.

Senators appointed to office by the NPKC joined the opposition and the NAP in voting against the government Thursday, and the Bangkok Post reported that the new allies were seen exchanging congratulatory cases of wine.

Impossible

Speaking after that vote, Abhisit quoted Chuan as saying: "The problem arising today ... makes it impossible for (the coalition) to continue to work together in this system."

The vote was on constitutional amendments which would have curtailed the prerogatives of the Interior Ministry headed by NAP leader Chaowalit Yongchaiyudh and the privileges of local officials.

At an emergency meeting Thursday night, the four remaining coalition members agreed to give Chuan a free hand in forming a minority government.

Chuan, meanwhile, faces another difficult session of parliament next week when the opposition has scheduled a no- confidence motion against Agriculture Minister Niphon Promphand on charges the ministry manipulated a land reform package to benefit supporters rather than the poor.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Suthep Thueksuban, a Democrat like Niphon, resigned earlier this week rather than face the no- confidence vote.

Chuan had presented the land reforms, intended to help landless farmers and prevent encroachment on national forest reserves, as a major success for his government.