Thai new prime minister pleads for chance to run the country
BANGKOK, Jan 29 (TNA) -Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Tuesday told Thai people to have confidence in him and pleaded for a chance to run the country despite verbal insults and sarcastic remarks against him in the past.

"Whoever insulted me and looked down on me, you'll have to give me some time. The previous prime minister was a militaryman and he could run the country for 16 months. I'm a politician and I can also do it. I have my team to work with me. Please have faith in us," said Mr. Samak in a speech immediately after a ceremony to be officially bestowed the premiership at His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's command.

Likening the administration of a country to driving a car, Mr. Samak said each person has the responsibility of taking care of each part of the car which can be driven into different conditions whether on bumpy roads, in broad daylight or night time.

"As head of the government who has to drive this car in an abnornal situation, I beg for a chance to solve pending problems for the country's survival," said the outspoken PM. "I have to say this because I've been forced by the situation to do it. I've been insulted by lots of people and I must be patient. Now I'm running the country; so allow me to do it."

In a harsh tone, he strongly emphasised his leadership at the People Power Party (PPP) which commands 233 seats in the 480-seat House of Representatives and despite having been in politics for almost 40 years "this will be the first time that I will take the premier's role."

"I assure all of you that I can do it. The past 24 prime ministers had been patriotic, protecting the religion and loyal to the monarchy. Compared to them, I'm no less loyal to the monarchy," Mr. Samak said. "We have had the monarchy for hundreds of year and the institution will continue to be with us."

Apparently defending ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the stern-faced Samak said, "Whoever dares to accuse others of being disloyal to the monarchy has acted unfairly.The accused person is no less loyal to the monarchy."

A congratulatory banquet was held at Samak's residence in Bangkok's Bungkuem on Tuesday evening. PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee led dozens of PPP members who met at the PPP headquarters and travelled to Mr. Samak's residence in two coaches.

Many other members in the coalition bloc separately arrived to join the function. (TNA)


mcot news: Political News : Last Update : 18:39:20 29 January 2008 (GMT+7:00)

Samak pleads for unity
PPP leader begs coalition partners to stick together to ensure stability of government

By Surasak Glahan & Manop Thip-Osod

People Power party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej yesterday begged his five political allies to not split prematurely from the newly-formed 315-seat government to ensure the stability of the new administration.


"How can you ask this kind of qustion? Don't you know the answer will be made by voting in the parliament, not in this room? Do you get it?" — SAMAK SUNDARAVEJ, PEOPLE POWER PARTY LEADER

"I asked for your cooperation to stick together with this figure of 315 [parliamentary seats]," he said at a press conference held jointly with the Chart Thai, Matchimatipataya, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin and Pracharaj parties to confirm their participation in a coalition government.

With these numbers in the 480-seat parliament, the new government should be stable enough, and the five smaller parties should not make any honeymoon period short-lived by splitting away, he said.

None of the five parties' representatives mentioned the issue, except Pracharaj party leader Sanoh Thienthong, who said stability would be the responsibility of all parties in the coalition.

Representative of parties at the event were Matchimatipataya secretary-general Anongwan Thepsutin, Chart Thai chief adviser Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasart, Puea Pandin chief Suvit Khunkitti and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Gen Chettha Thanajaro.

Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-acha and Matchimatipataya party leader Prachai Leophairatana decided not to be there.

All five parties said they decided to join the coalition led by the PPP because they believed the party backed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had legitimacy to form a government.

They said they wanted to respect the decision of the majority of voters, who rewarded the PPP with 233 seats in the election.

Political scientist Somjai Phagapasvivat of Thammasat University said the new government could expect the same level of parliamentary stability as that of its predecessor the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, which was dissolved last year for poll fraud.

This is because all the parties, except Chart Thai, are former TRT factions who together worked in the two stable governments under the management of Mr Thaksin, then the TRT leader, he said.

This time there will be "an invisible hand" who will deliver the same management to ensure a strong government, he said.

Threats to the government's stability could be expected from factors outside parliament such as opponents of Mr Thaksin, who may disapprove of the style of Mr Samak in handling the top job, said Mr Somjai.

Despite the five parties confirming they had joined the new government, they did not say whether they would support Mr Samak becoming prime minister.

Mr Samak blasted journalists who demanded answers to the question.

"How can you ask this kind of question? Don't you know the answer will be made by voting in the parliament, not in this room? Do you get it?" he shouted at a journalist who repeatedly asked the same question.

He also declined to answer a number of questions on the new government's economic policies, saying reporters should wait for policy statements to be made in the parliament. He said after the conference that the new cabinet should be ready within the next two weeks.

Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned the PPP-led government not to plunge itself into more conflicts and to not steer its MPs on the "wrong track".

Mr Abhisit was concerned that the new government would use its majority of seats to serve its own interests and intervene in investigations into the Thaksin administration, which was alleged to have abused its absolute parliamentary power.

"Please don't bring back the old problems," Mr Abhisit told reporters as he was going to help campaign for Democrat candidates in a by-election in Udon Thani.

With 163 seats in the lower house, he said the Democrats were ready for the opposition role. "It would not be difficult for us to work with this number," said Mr Abhisit.

Democrat MPs will meet tomorrow to discuss their next political moves and nominate MPs to compete for the House speaker and deputy jobs.

PPP, five parties to form Thai coalition government
BANGKOK, Jan 19 (TNA) – The People Power Party (PPP) and five smaller political parties Saturday jointly announced that they would form a coalition government, almost a month after a general election was held in Thailand.

Leaders and senior executives of the five smaller parties told a press conference, held at a Bangkok hotel, that they had decided to join the PPP-led coalition government in order to enable Thailand to move forward and to resolve crisis
facing the country.

Joining the PPP in the coalition government were the Chart Thai, Puea Pandin, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Pracharat and Matchimatipataya parties.

Their formal agreement to join the coalition government to be formed will leave the Democrat Party which gained second place in the election after the PPP to sit alone on the opposition bench in the 480-member House of representatives (Lower House).

PPP leader Samak Sundaravej told the press conference that the next step was that the first House meeting will be held Monday, which would be followed by the election of the speaker of the House of Representatives, the prime minister and appointments of cabinet ministers.

Thanking the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties for joining the coalition government, the 72-year-old Samak said the six-party coalition government which commanded 315 seats of the 480-seat total in the House would be strong enough to make a stable government and be able to solve the problems facing the country.

So far no discussions on ministerial portfolios have been reported by the leaders of the six parties, as they have to await the opening of the first session of the House, election of the House speaker and the prime minister before talks could be held, said Mr. Samak, who would become the new prime minister as his party swept most seats in the election.

Mr. Samak, however, sidestepped a reporter's question as to whether the leaders of the five parties joining the coalition would support him to become Thailands next prime minister, saying that: "The question shouldn't be posed and in accordance with the constitution, the prime minister is elected inside the House and not from this (hotel) room."

He said the cabinet line-up would become clearer in the next 15 days.

Apart from Mr. Samak, the key leaders appearing at the press conference were PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee, Chart Thai chief advisor Maj.Gen. Sanan Kachornprasart, Matchimatipataya represented by Secretary General Anongwan Thepsuthin, Pracharaj by its leader Sanoh Thienthong, Puea Paendin by leader Suwit Khunkitti and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Gen. Chetta Thanajaro.

Chart Thai leader Banhan Silpa-archa did not appear at the press conference. (TNA)-E003,E111


Political News :MCOT.COM: Last Update : 17:25:39 19 January 2551 (GMT+7:00)