BANGKOK - A CENSURE vote against Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and five other ministers has been set for Saturday, March 21, a lawmaker for the ruling Democrats said on Monday.

Analysts said the government seemed certain to survive since the opposition was unlikely to rally half the members of parliament to vote with it, as required.

The main opposition Puea Thai party, close to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, tabled a motion of no confidence on March 12, accusing Mr Abhisit and other ministers, including Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, of abuse of power.

Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, a chief whip of the ruling coalition, said the censure debate would start on Thursday, March 19. 'The coalition is ready to face the debate on the scheduled date,' he said.

The parliamentary procedure could distract the cabinet at a time when it should be concentrating on the economy, which experienced its worst contraction on record in the final quarter of 2008 and is likely to enter recession this year.

Mr Abhisit said in London at the weekend that the economy was unlikely to start recovering until the fourth quarter of the year. -- REUTERS