Thai PM Ousted For Hosting Cooking Show

Job As TV Personality Violated Constitution; Thai Political Crisis Deepens

(CBS/AP)  Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej violated the constitution by hosting television cooking shows and must resign from office.

Tuesday's ruling also means Samak's Cabinet must resign, however, Samak's party spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said party members had agreed to nominate the deposed leader in Parliament as their candidate for prime minister.

Kuthep said the party still needed the support of the ruling six-party coalition, and Samak himself, but their endorsement could render the court's ruling largely symbolic, placing Samak back in office in the near future.

The ruling came amid a deepening political crisis for Thailand.

Judge Chat Chonlaworn told the court that Samak had "violated Article 267 of the constitution" and that "his position as prime minister has ended."

Thailand's constitution bars government ministers from private employment while in office.

Anti-government protesters have occupied the grounds of Samak's office since Aug. 26, demanding his resignation. Protesters had pledged to end their sit-in at Thailand's Government House if Samak stepped down, but it was unclear if the court's ruling would satisfy them.

Thailand's Cabinet agreed on Sept. 4 to hold a referendum on a civic group's street campaign to oust Samak, which has paralyzed the government for weeks and raised fears of violence and economic chaos.

That decision came hours after a defiant Samak went on national radio and vowed he would not step down.

His combative speech last week intensified the deadlock with the People's Alliance for Democracy, whose supporters in their thousands have taken over the sprawling lawns of Samak's office compound since storming through the gates on Aug. 26.

[lewiston14]

How petty. The guy hosting a few cooking shows maybe reaching out saying see we can talk about something other then wars. I have never had Thai food but would have watched to see it being made and if I might like to try it.

[credibility2]

Yet another example of the peculiar and bizarre in non-Western governing. Why would anyone want to visit this country anyway?

[lewiston14]

Credibility2: I never said I was going to visit but i think watching a cooking program on tv is a very harmless thing to do.

[lewiston14]

Nancy (and im not making fun of you) Do you, me or 99 percent of us here really care what Thailand does inside their own country. If it fell of the planet today the only people that would be pissed are the arabs looking for hookers. beggers all just looking for another hand out from the US. Let me guess im going to spent $20,000 to go look at a few beat up buda stones

[aldon61]

Let''s see, Thailand disposes of it''s leader for moonlighting. Our president is getting rich BEHIND the scenes for starting wars and awarding "NO BID " contracts to ex-employers of the VP. The Thailand leader did it up-front, our leaders do it covertly. What''s wrong here? The cooking show didn''t wind up killing anyone, did it? Why can''t we get rid of our leaders? Oh, I remember now, speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table shortly after she was sworn in. Ever wonder Nancy why the approval rating for congress is MUCH lower than the presidents? You''re a bunch of spineless, worthless bureaucrats!

[antoniof123]

I just had to read this story to see what they were talking about.

What we find strange here in this country may be cause for an uprising in other. Just the oppoiste is true here I guess.

[bobnjersey]

[Yet another example of the peculiar and bizarre in non-Western governing. ]
[Posted by Credibility2 at 07:41 AM : Sep 09, 2008]

by peculiar and bizarre ... do you mean the adherance the the constitution and the enforcement of it''s major tenents?

[peeinpants]

Firstly, it appears he may have eaten too much on the show. Perhaps it will be good for the country that he step down. After all, Thai females are reknown for their lithe, svelte profiles. It becomes problematic when the prime minister dispells that image by he himself showing no restraints in the consumption of what the Thai culinary world has to offer. Out of office he will be enabled to gorge himself to his hearts content. Let him be happy. Gastric delights to the P.M. (ex, that is)

[ajaxtheleast]

Samak acted rash.!,,,He KNOWS Thailand''s
constitution.!!,,,He KNOWS that "article 267"
clearly states "No hosting cooking shows."!!

If only he''d have thought, so as to avoid
the consequences of actions not permitted in
Thailand''s constitution, he would have instead invaded a sovereign country that was no
immediate danger to Thailand, killed a few
hundred thousand people, established Thailand military bases there, totally occupied the
country, set up a puppet government and in
so conforming to Thailand''s constitution he
would still be the leader of their country.

[zorar-2009]

But can he cook moose burgers?

[txgrouch2006]

by peculiar and bizarre ... do you mean the adherance the the constitution and the enforcement of it''''s major tenents?
Posted by bobnjersey at 10:19 AM : Sep 09, 2008

Yes, we did that here once, long ago. This should be called "Cooking-gate."

[airboatboy]

ME COOK RAT! ME GET FIRED! NO FUNNY!

[marshall_nee]

I thought that all politicians cooked :-)

[txgrouch2006]

If it doesn''''t specifically mention "chocolate chip cookie" in the Thai constitution, I think he''''s okay.
Posted by DeckardBR at 08:42 PM : Sep 09, 2008

Then it would be "Cookiegate."

I like the sound of that MUCH better!

[txgrouch2006]

Sheesh! This guy gets thrown out for doing a COOKING SHOW. Maybe he should have done what Bill Clinton did instead. He stayed in office for the full two terms.