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Thai premier vows to hold poll

May 7, 2014

Thailand's caretaker prime minister has said he will see through planned July elections. Earlier, the Constitutional Court ruled that Yingluck Shinawatra was guilty of abuse of power charges and banned her from politics.

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Image: Reuters

After the ruling, the cabinet announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan would replace Yingluck, and the caretaker government would press ahead with plans for the July 20 elections.

As well as Yingluck, Thailand's Constitutional Court also implicated nine ministers, but allowed others to retain their posts.

"The caretaker government's responsibility now is to organize an election as soon as possible," said Niwatthamrong, a former executive in a company owned by Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother and a former prime minister. "I hope the political situation will not heat up after this," Niwatthamrong added, referring to the court ruling.

The court ruled Wednesday that, with a "hidden agenda" to benefit her powerful family and Pheu Thai Party, Yingluck had replaced national security chief Thawil Pliensri after taking power in 2011.

Thaksin, who now lives in exile in Dubai, was ousted by the military in 2006 but candidates loyal to him have won every election since.

"The judges unanimously rule that Yingluck abused her prime minister status and interfered in transferring (Thawil Pliensri) for her own benefit," Charoon Intachan, president of the nine-member court, said in a televised verdict. "Therefore her prime minister status has ended."

'Given my all'

Yingluck, who faced six months of sometimes deadly protests aimed at toppling her government and ending the political influence of her brother, thanked the nation in a televised news conference after the verdict on Wednesday.

"Throughout my time as prime minister, I have given my all to my work for the benefit of my countrymen ... " Yingluck said on Wednesday. "I have never committed any unlawful acts as I have been accused of doing. From now on, no matter what situation I am in, I will walk on the path of democracy. I am sad that I will not be able to serve you after this."

Still, removing Yingluck from power provides no obvious end to the turmoil in Thailand. Protesters opposed to the ex-prime minister and her government have continued to push for political reforms before new elections are held.

For their part, Yingluck's supporters accuse the Constitutional Court of bias in repeated rulings against governments loyal to Thaksin.

mkg/rc (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)