BANGKOK — Thai parliament will convene on Friday for a special meeting to vote for a new prime minister following the court ruling that dismissed Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by the Secretary General of the House of Representatives, Acting Police Sub-Lieutenant Arpath Sukhanunth said House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sent a notice to all Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday evening, calling on them to convene a meeting at 10am on Friday.

“Lawmaker will vote to consider giving approval to a person who should be appointed as Prime Minister according to Section 159 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand,” he said in a statement here Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed Srettha from his premiership after finding him guilty of appointing a minister with criminal conviction in May.

Meanwhile, local media reported that Phumtham Wechayachai (picture) of the Pheu Thai party has been named acting Prime Minister, as he was the first deputy prime minister and also Minister of Commerce under Srettha’s administration.

Thailand’s constitution stipulates that to become the prime minister, a candidate needs to receive the support of a majority from existing members of parliament totalling 493 MPs, which means that 248 votes or more must be obtained.

Out of a total of 500 parliamentary seats, six Move Forward Party (MFP) MPs have been banned from serving after the party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court last week, while the MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat was suspended for involvement in buying votes.

After the MPs elect the Prime Minister, the next step is for the Prime Minister to submit a proposed list of ministers to the King for further appointment. — BERNAMA