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Published on January 25, 2008

Yongyuth, an MP in the People Power Party (PPP), spoke shortly after getting royal endorsement as the House Speaker.

People Power Party MPs Somsak Kiartsuranon and Apiwan Wiriyachai were appointed deputy House speakers by the same royal command.

The House regulations require the House speaker to inform all 480 MPs in writing about the session three days in advance, or he can hold an urgent meeting if desired. However, Yongyuth said he would follow the normal rules.

He did not want to cause controversy among members and the public, he said.

"The session will be held on Monday at 9.30am," he said.

People Power leader Samak Sundaravej will have to wait three more days before he becomes prime minister for the first time after almost four decades in politics.

Yongyuth said he and his deputies would never betray the nation or the monarchy. He insisted he would be neutral and his goal would be to build unity among all parties. The House under his leadership would be open to the public to welcome suggestions and opinions concerning legal issues, he said.

Samak said he had no problem with the parliamentary session to elect the premier being delayed till Monday.

Yongyuth had prepared for yesterday's ceremony since late on Wednesday. He waited all day before entering in the afternoon.

Just before, the Chiang Rai MP let Sinsae Boong, a feng shui expert, assess his office at Parliament, which is on the second floor.

Sinsae Boong said the desk was badly located opposite the entrance, against feng shui principles. He advised Yongyuth move it to face the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall.

He also checked decorations in the building, especially on the second floor, for good luck.

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of former prime minister Thaksin, engaged the feng shui master to advise Thaksin when he was prime minister.

Democrat MP Thepthai Sainphong had said earlier that the session should not be held this week because House regulations required the Speaker to acknowledge all the members in writing three days before the session.

Meanwhile, PPP party-list MP Sukhumphong Ngonkham said whips in the six-party coalition agreed to back a PPP member to become the prime minister.

The Nation