BANGKOK, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's house of representatives on Saturday voted against a motion proposed by a pro-government party to postpone the set election of a speaker during the first meeting of the lower house.
Among 496 attending MPs, 248 said no to the motion and 246 said yes, the motion then failed to pass.
Five MPs, mainly from pro-government Palang Pracharath Party, however said no to the motion. They noted at the last minute to change their stance but were all rejected.
The house of representatives then began the section of electing a speaker. Pro-government Palang Pracharath Party nominated Democrat Party member, former prime minister Chuan Leekpai while opposition Prachachart Party nominated Pheu Thai Party member, former deputy prime minister Sompong Amornvivat.
The lower house would vote out the speaker soon.
According to the Thai constitution, the speaker of the house of representatives would also be the president of the national assembly who would convene the lower house and the senate to jointly elect a new prime minister.
