Thai Senate opens for extraordinary session

BANGKOK, May 2 (TNA) - The Thai Senate has opened its extraordinary session, marking its first session following the latest Senate election on March 30, 2014. Both elected and appointed Thai senators gathered at the Parliament building in Bangkok on Friday to attend the extraordinary session, declared open by a Royal Decree approved by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and announced on May 1. Before the Senate session, the senators were led by Acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liengboonlertchai, former first deputy Senate speaker, to pay respect to the statue of King Rama VII, recognized as the Father of Thailand's Democracy, inside the Parliament compound. Former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanich was indicted on March 20, 2014 by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for unlawfully performing his duty during a parliamentary debate on a constitutional amendment concerning the composition of the Senate. Surachai then told journalists whether the new Senate Speaker would be appointed on Friday would entirely depends on the senators’ decision. But there was reportedly no agenda on the appointment of the new Senate Speaker on the opening day of the Thai Upper House session. Surachai admitted that the absent of the Senate Speaker would affect the work of the legislative branch, suggesting that senators immediately appoint the new Senate Speaker who is “politically neutral” and devotes himself to solve domestic political problems for the sake of national interest. (TNA)