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Sunday, September 14, 2008

Trio of contenders

Manop Thip-Osod and Wassana Nanuam

Political alliances in the People Power party-led government agreed on candidates for the job of prime minister on Sunday but remained tight-lipped on their preferences among Somchai Wongsawat, Sompong Amornwiwat and Surapong Suebwonglee.
The five parties' backing was crucial after they rejected the return of Mr Samak by boycotting the parliamentary session called on Friday to pick the new leader of the government.
Their stance, supported by rebel members of the PPP, forced Mr Samak out of politics.
On Sunday the five parties promised to be part of a new government and left the nomination of a prime minister to the PPP to decide.
Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpaarcha late last night pledged to be part of the administration. "Chart Thai is ready to support one of the three to be prime minister," he said.
Earlier, Mr Somchai, the acting prime minister, said Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong had ceded responsibility for selecting the prime minister to the PPP.
Matchimathipataya chief Anongwan Thepsuthin also agreed to back the PPP's choice.
"Matchimathipataya will respect any candidate endorsed by the PPP. (Sunday's) talks did not touch on cabinet positions to be reserved for the party," she said.
Puea Pandin leader Suvit Khunkitti said the quick formation of the new government was essential.
He hoped the PPP would select the most suitable person to lead the government, but he and the other party leaders refused to reveal their individual favourites.
Mr Somchai and Mr Surapong promised there would be no rift in the party when its members convene to select one of the three candidates.
The PPP will meet its coalition partners again tomorrow to jointly announce the candidate, who will be officially selected by parliament at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
Mr Somchai was with army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda and police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan on Sunday to announce the end of the state of emergency in Bangkok, effective immediately.
He strongly denied the move was a tactic to boost his popularity ahead of the PPP's decision on who will be the prime minister. The emergency was being lifted to spare the country's economy from further damage, he said.
Mr Somchai is tipped to have the best chance of the three, as he is a brother-in-law of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who backs the PPP.
But this close relationship with Mr Thaksin makes other coalition parties uncomfortable, fearing Mr Somchai will be branded a proxy to the telecom tycoon.
Mr Surapong is believed to be favoured by business groups, as he is the current finance minister.
Mr Somchai denied that Mr Thaksin, who fled court proceedings in Bangkok to live in London, pressed the party to nominate him as successor to Mr Samak.
The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued to attack all the three choices.
Somsak Kosaisuk, one of the PAD leaders, said none of the three were qualified to run the country and said that instead of trying to become prime minister, they should step down from politics altogether.
The PAD has made clear it will say no to a government led by the PPP.
Mr Somchai shrugged off the rejection by the PAD, saying their opposition to the PPP was acceptable but the demonstrators must respect the law.
Democrat party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon said the three candidates were a reflection of infighting inside the PPP between the "gang of four" — which includes Mr Surapong, Newin Chidchob and Mr Samak — and the rest, who were frustrated at their declining roles in key decisions made in the party.

www.bangkokpost.com

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