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.