New government likely next week

New government likely next week

(BangkokPost.com)

People Power party leader Samak Sundaravej has scheduled a press conference for January 4, when he says it will announce the formation of a new government.

PPP spokesperson Kuthep Saikrajang made the announcement early Wednesday, confirming that the PPP now has 254 seats in the bag.

"There is no doubt that the PPP will be able to form a new government and we hope that Puea Pandin party will join us,"he said.

"We are not making presumptions. What I’ve said is the truth and there is a possibility that we will get more seats in the days ahead."

He also explained Mr Samak's silence as a way of avoiding controversy or - as he put it - giving out sensitive information to the press which could later be misinterpreted.

However, he denied that Mr Samak had met Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong.

Mr Thaksin said early this week that he intends to return to Thaland from exile to fight charges levelled against him by a military-appointed investigation commission. He also intends to advise PPP, which is the reincarnation of his Thai Rak Thai party.