Public wants some new wine

EDITORIAL

Public wants some new wine

The outcome of Sunday's general election sends several messages _ to the military, to the elite and to politicians. But voters seemed determined most of all to show that they do not entirely trust any party or group. Peacefully, responsibly, citizens showed they are not yet ready to give a full mandate to either of the two major parties. Indeed, even though the result of the election is known, it is still far from clear which party will lead the next government, and who is to become the 25th prime minister of Thailand.

People Power party has the legal authority to try to form a government. But it is unclear whether its parliamentary plurality will be enough for leader Samak Sundaravej to make good his election night boast that he will be premier ''for sure''. Voters insisted they would not allow the edgy, sharp PPP to govern. If the reborn core of Thai Rak Thai (TRT) is to gain control, its members will have to soften, and to convince at least one other party to join a coalition.

Voters also denied the Democrats the authority to be first in line to form a government. Although it swept most of the seats in Bangkok and its stronghold in the South, Thailand's oldest party failed to impress the entire country that it was strong enough to govern. The party laboured during the entire campaign under accusations that it would kowtow to the military, and the country withheld the mandate of a parliamentary majority. Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva might still get a chance to form a government, but not without a lot of help from minor parties, and not until PPP leaders have tried. If voters across the country denied the major parties unfettered permission to form a government, they also seemed to address other issues as well. For one thing, they refused to listen to the military leaders who overthrew the TRT and worked to prevent the return of its proxy. That is the strongest possible indication that it is time for the military to step well back from politics. The Sept 19, 2006, military coup may have won a lot of popular support, but the election result showed the disappointment created by 15 months of desultory performance by the military junta and its government.

It seems clear that the nation is hoping for the best but fearing the worst from the politicians. Equally clearly then, only a stellar performance from the next government and opposition is likely to end the cynicism and distrust that has built up in recent years. The question on the country's lips is whether the men who now will try to govern Thailand are up to the task. And it is a valid question.

Almost all the prominent men who are trying to bargain their way into the top ranks of government are familiar faces. Many, unfortunately, are known more for their lack of previous performance than for their achievements. The leading candidate for the premiership, Mr Samak, faces corruption allegations from his time as Bangkok governor. Other familiar faces include a former premier, many ex-cabinet ministers, and a party leader whose claim to fame is that he supposedly made two prime ministers from behind the scenes.

It is possible that the most common phrase heard from voters in the past month has been about ''old wine in new bottles''. Many even doubt that the bottles are new. To be fair, however, parties and their leaders campaigned on many new promises this year. Clearly, it will be impossible to implement all of the expensive, populist campaign platforms, especially since any government will have to be a coalition with at least two parties.

But voters have the right to expect the transparent, honest government that all parties promised to deliver. In fact, Thailand will not properly return to the democratic road until an accountable government is in place. The politicians who are so eager to take over the reins of government cannot change their past actions. They can, however, change their attitudes, get serious about governing, and keep the public informed as they proceed. On Sunday, the country demanded new wine in those new bottles. That is what it has the right to receive.