Thailand to convene extraordinary parliamentary session

The Thai caretaker cabinet on Monday approved a draft royal decree to convene an extraordinary session of parliament from May 2 to 10, deputy government spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat said.

The draft royal decree is awaiting the king's endorsement.

Since the nullification of the Feb. 2 general election resulted in the absence of members of the House of Representatives, the special parliamentary meeting will be attended only by senators.

The Election Commission (EC) will endorse the last 15 senators- elect on Tuesday, the 30-day deadline for the EC to endorse 77 senators elected in the March 30 senatorial election, EC Secretary General Puchong Nutrawong said.

During the special session, the Senate will endorse a new member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and new judges of the Central Administrative Court, Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai said.

The Senate is also expected to consider the impeachment of Speaker Nikom Vaiyaratpanich, who has been suspended from duty since the NACC's ruling in March that he had violated the constitution for his role in chairing parliamentary meetings deliberating a constitutional amendment bill.