PPP reaches out to other parties

ELECTION 2007

PPP reaches out to other parties

Democrats could be isolated in opposition

POST REPORTERS

The People Power party (PPP) is moving closer to forming a coalition government, with enough seats in the 480-member new parliament to ensure it will survive any punishment of its MPs by the Election Commission (EC).

Less than 24 hours after PPP leader Samak Sundaravej announced that he was ready to be the next prime minister with the Pracharaj and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana parties as potential coalition partners, the PPP was aiming to win the support of all other parties except the Democrats.

The PPP wants to lead a coalition government with at least 280 MPs and to turn the Democrats into the lone opposition party.

This will help a PPP-led government to continue functioning if any of its MPs are red-carded or yellow-carded by the EC.

Election commissioner Praphan Naikowit said the EC was investigating 48 cases of alleged irregularities in Sunday's election. However, he declined to name the parties being investigated by EC staff.

The PPP has long suspected that its candidates have been targeted by the EC, as part of attempts to block the party _ which is backed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra _ from coming to power.

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee yesterday announced that other parties had decided to join his party in forming a coalition with the aim of creating a strong and stable administration.

However, he declined to say how many parties would join the PPP, saying only that the announcement would be made after Jan 3, when the official election results are certified by the EC.

But a PPP source said the PPP had successfully talked the Chart Thai, Puea Pandin and Matchimathipataya parties into helping it form a government.

The decision by the three partiesto join a PPP-led coalition came a day after Chart Thai and Puea Pandin formed an alliance to bargain for power with the PPP and the Democrats.

The combined seats of all parties, minus the Democrats, total 315.

The same source said Mr Samak and Mr Thaksin had wanted to bring in Chart Thai and Puea Pandin with the promise of a fresh start.

Another high-ranking source in the PPP said Mr Thaksin called up Suwat Liptapanlop, a leading member of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong and Puea Pandin leader Suvit Khunkitti.

The source said the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties were cool to the PPP's invitation on Sunday night because the results were still uncertain and they were worried about some of their winning candidates being red-carded.

But after seeing the number of House seats won by the PPP seats increase from 228 to 232 in unofficial results, and with their belief that red cards would possibly be issued to contestants from other parties too, they decided to team up with the PPP, the source added.

Mr Surapong said the commitment of those parties was without conditions, but several sources said there was much bargaining for cabinet posts.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his party would not make any move to form a government until after other parties make it clear they will not team up with the PPP.

Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban has not given up hope that the Democrats would be given a chance to form a government. He would not believe that the PPP's bid to form a government is successful until the party and its coalition partners hold a press conference to make a formal announcement.

Mr Suthep believed that the other political parties would not rush to join the PPP or the Democrats until the official election results are announced by the EC.

''There are two alternatives now _ either the People Power party or the Democrats will be the lone opposition party,'' he said.

The decision to team up with the PPP could lead to rifts in Puea Pandin, which split into two camps yesterday.

Surakiart Sathirathai did not want the party to join a PPP-led coalition but Pol Capt Pairote Suwanchawee and the faction led by Suchart Tancharoen saw political benefits from joining the PPP.

Mr Surakiart and Pol Capt Pairote, who are among the 111 Thai Rak Thai executives banned from politics for five years after the party was dissolved for election fraud by the Constitution Tribunal, have key roles in Puea Pandin.