Thai Court Orders PM Samak to Resign

Text of report in English by Thai newspaper The Nation website on 9 September

[Unattributed report: "Convicted Samak disqualified"]

The Constitution Court Tuesday convicted Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of having violated the charter by hosting commercial TV shows while in office.

The court voted unanimously to disqualify Samak as the prime minister.

The court reasoned that the Constitution was aimed to prevent conflicts of interest on part of Cabinet members so Samak had violated in the intention of the charter although he host the programmes on part-time basis.

The entire Cabinet also lost its status but other Cabinet members became caretaker ministers until new Cabinet is found, the court ruled.

Originally published by The Nation website, Bangkok, in English 9 Sep 08.

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