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Thai prime minister faces no-confidence debate

Associated Press - March 19, 2009

Ambika Ahuja, Bangkok – Thailand's main opposition party opened a no-confidence debate Thursday against the prime minister and five key Cabinet ministers, accusing the government of taking power illegitimately and mismanaging the country.

The opposition is seeking to censure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who took office in December following months of instability and protests by opponents of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whose loyalists were then in power and now dominate the opposition.

The two-day debate, initiated by the opposition Phuea Thai Party, is to culminate in a vote Saturday that the opposition says it does not expect to win but hopes will sway public support.

Chalerm Yoobamrung, leading the debate for Phuea Thai, vowed to reveal "new evidence" that would tarnish the ruling Democrat Party's image.

Parliament named Abhisit prime minister after dozens of defections helped the Democrats form a shaky ruling coalition. The opposition argues he was not elected by popular vote.

"This government took power using special means," opposition member Jatuporn Phromphan said during the televised debate. "They never won the elections."

Abhisit defended his government's rise to power. "I was voted in by the members of Parliament who want to see political changes in the country after what happened last year," Abhisit told lawmakers. "I came into power through a legitimate parliamentary process."

He also was expected to face questions over donations to the Democrat Party that the opposition alleges were kept secret.

Much of the opposition's anger is focused on Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was a vocal supporter of the anti-Thaksin demonstrators whose actions helped oust previous pro-Thaksin governments.

Kasit spoke on several occasions from the protesters' stage and praised their activism, which included a three-month siege of the government's headquarters and a weeklong shutdown of Bangkok's two airports. He hailed the airport blockade as an "innovation in public protests."

The opposition argues that Kasit is a divisive figure with no place in the government, which says its mission is to unify the deeply divided country.

Resignation is customary if a majority of lawmakers vote against any minister, but the Democrat-led ruling coalition controls a majority and is expected to prevail.

Abhisit rose to power after a court ruled that the previous pro-Thaksin ruling party was guilty of election fraud.

Critics said the court ruling and Abhisit's appointment followed pressure from the military and other unelected groups.

Thaksin, who remains popular in the countryside, was ousted in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and abuse of power. He fled into exile last year and has been convicted in absentia of violating a conflict of interest law.

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