PPP split over Chart Thai

PPP split over Chart Thai

POST REPORTERS

The People Power party (PPP) is divided over whether it should try to bring Chart Thai into its planned coalition government, following its apparent success in getting Puea Pandin. Key PPP figure Newin Chidchob believes Chart Thai is now dispensable.

Secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee announced on Tuesday that the Pracharaj and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana parties had decided to join the PPP in forming a coalition government.

The addition of Puea Pandin would give the alliance 278 seats, which Mr Newin feels is enough to ensure the stability of the new government, a PPP source said.

But party leader Samak Sundaravej wants Chart Thai in the coalition. He had planned to lunch with Chart Thai members yesterday, but the meeting was cancelled, the source said.

PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang said he believed the party needed Chart Thai in addition to Puea Pandin but that there were reasons why that might not happen.

''One main reason is a past agreement under which Chart Thai committed itself to the Democrats.

''But on the other hand they need a clear answer on which aspects of government they would supervise if they join the coalition,'' he said.

''This is normal and such negotiations take time,'' Mr Kuthep added.

But a source at Chart Thai argued the PPP still needed Mr Banharn's party.

Despite being mentioned as part of the PPP effort, Matchimathipataya and Puea Pandin said they would wait for the official election results, due on Jan 3, before making a decision.

Matchimathipataya secretary-general Anongwan Thepsuthin said she had taken control of negotiations from party leader Prachai Leophairatana, who failed to get a seat in the proportional representation contest.

Concrete negotiations would have to wait until the announcement of official poll results, she said.

Deputy party leader Thanaporn Sriyakul said Mr Prachai had no authority to negotiate with other parties because he had already resigned the leadership and party membership.

Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Gen Chettha Thanajaro said the PPP had approached his party, but he would wait for the official poll results.

Puea Pandin deputy leader Jirayu Wasurat said the party would be ready to start negotiations when the election outcome was confirmed.

But a PPP source insisted Ruam Jai Thai and Puea Pandin were just trying to increase their bargaining power. They had already confirmed their participation in the PPP's bid to form a coalition, the source said.