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December 2, 2008 8:16:15 PM CST

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Cooking Show Could Cost Thai PM His Job

Posted Sep 8, 08 3:26 PM CDT in Crime & Courts,  World 

(Newser) – Thailand’s prime minister could be forced from his post tomorrow, the Guardian reports—not by protesters who have taken over government offices, but by a court ruling that hosting a TV cooking show was unconstitutional. Samak Sundaravej, 73, hosted Tasting, Grumbling, for years before being elected, appeared a handful of times since taking office in January—possibly violating laws on public officials working for private money.

Samak says he received compensation for hosting the show, but was not salaried and therefore not an employee of the TV company. And with Samak seen as an unpopular figurehead, one opposition lawyer says, “if the court rules that prime minister Samak is disqualified from holding office, then the political crisis could automatically cease.”

Source Guardian (UK)

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Two anti-government demonstrators dance during the demonstration at government house in Bangkok today.   (AP Photo)
Thailand's Prime Minsiter Samak Sundaravej arrives at the government radio station in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
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I was hired to appear on the programme and got paid from time to time. I was not an employee of the company, so I did not violate the law. I presented the cooking show and got paid for my acting. - Samak Sundaravej

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television • lawsuit • Thailand • protesters • constitution • cooking • prime minister • Thai protesters • Samak Sundaravej


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