Somchai the favourite

Post Reporters

Acting premier Somchai Wongsawat has an advantage over two other rivals in the People Power party (PPP) in the race to become the next prime minister.
The contest began after Samak Sundaravej decided on Friday to retire from politics.
Mr Somchai, Sompong Amornwiwat and Surapong Suebwonglee were picked by key party members yesterday to be potential candidates in the race.
Only one will be officially endorsed by PPP members at a meeting tomorrow. The name will be forwarded to the other five coalition parties for backing on Tuesday, one day before lawmakers reconvene in the House to vote for a new government leader.
Mr Somchai and Mr Sompong are the PPP's deputy leaders. Mr Surapong is secretary-general.
One of them will replace Mr Samak as prime minister after he was rejected by the coalition parties and dissident PPP members. Mr Samak's decision to step down as the PPP leader will not be official until it is approved by the party.
A PPP source said Mr Somchai, who is also caretaker prime minister and education minister, was favoured by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who still has influence in key issues.
He received backing from factions inside the PPP upset about the role of the largest group loyal to Newin Chidchob.
Mr Somchai is a brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin. Even the Democrat party preferred Mr Somchai to other contenders. "Somchai Wongsawat looks more suitable due to his past record as a judge and permanent secretary for justice," said Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.
Mr Suthep criticised Mr Sompong for trying to please Mr Thaksin by using his authority as justice minister to reshuffle officials thought to oppose the deposed prime minister out of the Department of Special Investigation. But the five parties in the government coalition appeared to support Mr Sompong because they did not want to see a new prime minister too close to Mr Thaksin, the source said.
Having Mr Somchai as the new prime minister could make the government more vulnerable to attacks by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) because he was even closer to Mr Thaksin than Mr Samak, another source said.
The group under Mr Newin, believed to represent about 70 MPs, has now picked Mr Surapong as its new favourite.
Songsak Thongsri of the Newin faction said Mr Surapong was the best choice as he would be acceptable to the public.
Mr Surapong, who is finance minister, would not face opposition from businessmen, another PPP member said.
However, he will face opposition from other factions inside the PPP who are upset about the way the Newin bloc tried to dictate to the party, sources said.
Whoever emerges as the winner will face opposition from the PAD, said coleader Chamlong Srimuang.
The PAD will continue its demonstration at Government House until the government falls.