Samak pleads for unity

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.