New govt must push for unity

New govt must push for unity

Even before the Election Commission released the unofficial results of the Dec 23 election, the People Power party began behind-the-scenes talks with potential partners to form a coalition government. As of now, the party appears to have the edge over the Democrats in the race to set up a government, which could include the rest of the other parties. As the party coming in second, the Democrats have played a fair game by complying with the unwritten political tradition which dictates that the victor has the first right to form a government after the election. Only if the PPP fails in its attempt _ which is unlikely for the time being _ will the Democrat party then give it a try.

For the public in general, whether the next coalition government is led by the PPP or by the Democrats does not seem to matter as much as whether the new government will be able to deliver as promised and to move the country out of political quagmire towards prosperity. First of all, the new government must be politically stable. If figures alone are taken into consideration, the PPP-led coalition would be more stable than the one led by the Democrats, if the former manages to bring together Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Pracharaj, Matchimathipataya, Puea Pandin or Chart Thai under its wing.

Even if the Democrats and the rest of the parties, except PPP, were to combine together, they would command just a slim majority in parliament, placing the coalition in a vulnerable position.

If the majority of the people prefer a stable government, then the probable choice will be a PPP-led coalition. In which case, those who voted for the Democrat party _ a majority of the urban middle class _ will have to accept PPP leader Samak Sundaravej as the country's leader. As a matter of principle, the leader of the party which wins the most seats in the election should be made prime minister.

As in all previous elections, the voters are treated as kings before the election by the politicians. But once the ballots are cast, their voices are rarely heeded.

Hence, the repeated calls for honest and efficient people to be put in ministerial posts are often drowned by the fierce struggle among politicians attempting to outdo one another to grab positions. Quite often this has ended up with people of questionable track records but with greater clout getting the job.

After more than a year of desperation and economic difficulty and with the political divide as wide as ever, the people have high expectations from the new government.

Foremost on the list of great expectations is that the government must restore national reconciliation to bring back confidence in the country and for the government to quickly address pressing economic problems.

The PPP must be aware that national reconciliation will not be achieved so long as there are elements within the party who continue to spread rumours that General Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council, is pulling the strings from behind to block the PPP from forming a government. Nor does the PPP's plan to seek an early amnesty for the 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives banned from politics for five years help in national reconciliation. The same holds true for the plan to dissolve the Assets Scrutiny Committee.

The PPP's de facto leader, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, also holds the key to the restoration of national reconciliation.

But his latest remarks and actions appear to contradict his repeated promise that he has washed his hands of politics, and have caused unease back home. Keeping a low profile would be to his own benefit and that of the PPP.

A golden opportunity is now open for the PPP to right the wrongs committed by its predecessor Thai Rak Thai, and to prove that it can lead the country to prosperity, peace, stability and harmony. It would be a pity if this opportunity is spoiled for the simple reason that it treats the personal interests of individuals as more important than those of the nation.