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Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – The political crisis that has been troubling Thailand for months seems to have reached a solution: the Supreme Court has issued a verdict calling for the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his government for violating the Constitution. Sundaravej is accused of having received pay from a television producer named “Face Media,” done in complete violation of the Constitution.
Sundaravej’s defense, claiming that he only received the “expense charges,” has been in vain. The Court has proven that there were violations of his institutional duties as Premier, forcing him to have to resign. The judges say that he can remain in office 30 days longer, to carry out any urgent administrative affairs, until a new Prime Minister is named by Parliament.
For months the Prime Minister has been under fire in lively protests in various Thai cities. Protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy have been at the forefront of the call for his resignation. The PAD has never fully accepted the political assent of the nation’s former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, removed from office by a coups in 2006 and now in exile in Great Britain. The movement claims that Sundaravej served as a proxy for the former Prime Minister, defending his interests.
Samak has been in office since February 2008, when he came to power following regular elections, at the head of a coalition formed from the remaining members of the party “Thai rak Thai,” created years before by Thaksin and later declared illegal.
The continual protests have led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Thailand, while the food and fuel crises are causing problems in the national economy. The Supreme Court’s decision could change the course of the crisis, although Sundaravej’s party has already stated that they will nominate him once more to lead the country. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2008)
