An informal Senate session has failed to come up with any concrete means to install an interim prime minister, dashing the hopes of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) that a so-called "neutral" premier would be appointed by their deadline of yesterday.
Anti-government protesters converge outside parliament to hear the Senate’s announcement of a way out of the political crisis. Many were visibly disappointed after no concrete solution was offered by the Upper House Friday. PATIPAT JANTHONG
PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban was disappointed with the result of the Senate meeting and announced that his movement will now find a way to have an interim prime minister on its own.
A frustrated Mr Suthep called the Senate leaders "gutless".
The demonstrators appear to be running out of options after six months of civil disobedience that has failed to unseat the government.
Mr Suthep also asked the PDRC's provincial branches nationwide, government officials and other organisations which are aligned with the PDRC, to send their representatives to a meeting Saturday at Government House to discuss plans to "seize control of sovereign power".
The announcement came as the rival red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is scheduled to ramp up its protest in the capital Saturday.
UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan later said the Senate meeting had frustrated Mr Suthep's hopes that an interim prime minister would have been installed by Friday.
However, Friday's session of the Upper House agreed that the Senate will call another special session to consider feedback from various sectors to find a new prime minister.
Speaking after the session, acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai said it had been agreed that efforts must be made to complete national reforms swiftly to restore peace to the country and that a prime minister and government invested with full authority to run the country is needed to implement reforms.
The Senate session discussed various views and suggestions a Senate coordinating committee had gathered from representatives of the military, government officials and sectors of society over the past week to try to break the political deadlock.
Sen Surachai said the meeting wanted the acting caretaker prime minister, the caretaker government and political parties to engage in talks with the Senate to find a way out of the political deadlock.
Sen Jate Siratharanont said the Senate will consider feedback gathered from all sectors of society in a special Senate session, which would be held to find an interim premier in accordance with the constitution — a process that would involve all sectors of society.
Sen Surachai pleaded with the people to trust the Senate to solve the country's political problems.
The Senate has assured that it will try its best to restore peace and harmony to the country as soon as possible.
Sen Jate revealed that a majority of the informal Senate session agreed on Friday that two provisions of the constitution may be used to appoint an interim government invested with full authority to run the country.
He said participants at the meeting agreed that sections 180 and 7 of the constitution can be applied to install an interim prime minister and government.
Section 180 deals with the entire cabinet vacating office en masse while Section 7 is a measure to deal with a problem which is not covered by any other provisions in the charter.
However, this was only the meeting's suggestion and it was not binding on other organisations, Sen Jate said, adding that the meeting had not yet nominated anybody to become the country's interim prime minister.
Acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan also denied a report that he will meet a Senate committee Saturday to discuss ways to end the political crisis.
He issued his denial after a member of a coordinating committee set up by Sen Surachai told reporters on Thursday that Mr Niwattumrong had agreed to meet for talks Saturday with the Senate panel.
Mr Niwattumrong said he was not aware of the invitation to the talks, adding that he had other engagements in the North over the weekend.
Chusak Sirinil, a member of the Pheu Thai Party's legal team, said the law does not authorise the Senate to appoint an interim premier.
The Senate's tasks only cover screening legislation, and appointing and removing other political-officer holders from office, he said, adding that the caretaker cabinet is required by the constitution to remain in office until a new elected cabinet is chosen to replace it.
The PDRC was dismayed Friday by the outcome of the Senate meeting.
The group gathered outside parliament to express its support for the Senate's efforts to install an interim premier while awaiting the result of the informal session.
After learning the results of the meeting, Mr Suthep said the PDRC will find ways to achieve its aim by itself. Mr Suthep then led demonstrators to return to their rally site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
Before the Senate meeting's outcome was announced, Mr Suthep said the Senate was the only hope remaining to bring an end to the country's months-long political crisis.
Red-shirt supporters react to the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Jatuporn Prompan’s announcement of a plan to scale up the protest this weekend. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD