Fun and Games may spell dissolution

It could be those attempting to make Chalerm Yoobamrung the next prime minister, or those going out of their way to stop that from happening.

We may soon get stuck in a major impasse, after a group of senators yesterday initiated a move to have the Constitution Court rule on whether party-list MPs of the dissolved parties should disappear along with them. The logic is simple: voters had voted for the dissolved parties, not for the MPs, so now that the parties have gone, so should they.

The same senators also questioned the status of caretaker prime minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who is not an MP. Now, watch this kid. He can cause the stickiest stalemate because if Chaovarat cannot function and the political situation warrants a House dissolution, who could do it?

The Constitution allows the Senate to act on the House of Representatives' behalf if the latter can not function, but this is different. We may end up having a House of Representatives that can still function but with no one to dissolve it if need be.

A lot of legal questions have to be unlocked and, already, the tentative schedule to reconvene the House on Monday to nominate the new prime minister seems to have been postponed. House Speaker Chai Chidchob himself yesterday warned that a rush to decision on the next prime minister could renew big political trouble for Thailand.

Now, a wrap-up of prime ministerial candidates: Chalerm Yoobamrung seemed to be fading fast yesterday, with opposition growing from many corners. Coming on strong is Mingkwan Sangsuwan, who is a far less controversial figure and, better still, is backed by another influential man close to Thaksin Shinawatra, Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

Chances looked slim for Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, but if an unlikely switch of allegiance does happen, defectors from the government side may prefer less controversial Democrat Chuan Leekpai as head of state.

Much to our horror, Snoh Thienthong's name has also been mentioned. He made another candidate, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader General Chetta Thanajaro look good. Another key factor is the Newin Chidchob faction, whose final say will go a long way to determining what happens next.

But all the delay, indecision and split opinions among the government politicians may point to the increasingly likely scenario: a House dissolution.