Thai parliament to meet Friday to choose new PM, Reuters reports

Thailand's lower house of parliament will meet on Friday to choose a new prime minister following the court's ousting of Srettha Thavisin, the former leader's chief of staff told Reuters.

"Parliament will schedule to meet and vote for the next prime minister on Friday," said Prommin Lertsuridej, who has served under governments led by the Pheu Thai party and its previous incarnations.

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed Srettha Thavisin as prime minister for "grossly" violating ethics by appointing a minister who had served jail time, raising the specter of political upheaval and a shakeup in the governing alliance.

Thailand's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul later said the ruling coalition remained strong and that the Pheu Thai Party should lead the formation of a new government.

Anutin, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest partner in the alliance, told reporters that he was not thinking about himself for the premier candidacy and that Pheu Thai, as the largest party in the coalition, should lead the formation of the government.

According to another Reuters report, the Pheu Thai Party said it will meet on Thursday to select its candidate to become premier.

(With input from Reuters)