Key parties delay decision on coalition

Puea Pandin and Chart Thai wait to see who EC will red-card before announcing if they will join government

By Post reporters

The Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties have tried to buy time by delaying accepting an invitation from the People Power party to form a coalition government, say political analysts. The PPP's bid to draw the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties into forming a coalition government makes the two parties ''key variables'' since the PPP, which won the most seats in the Dec 23 polls, will not be able to form a government on its own.

With support from the Pracharaj and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana parties, the PPP could form a three-party coalition government with 254 seats in the 480-seat parliament. However, a PPP-led government would not be stable with such a marginally-thin majority, said analysts.

A source said the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties, which have built up an alliance, were awaiting a decision by the Election Commission (EC) on whether to issue yellow or red cards to winning candidates. The EC's decision, expected on Jan 3, will have some impact on the bargaining power of the two parties, said a political source.

The two parties' tactics to buy time include issuing five conditions for entering a PPP-led coalition government, the sudden sickness of Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa and the need for Chart Thai and Puea Pandin to reach a joint resolution before accepting the PPP's invitation.

A source in the PPP, however, said the PPP and five other parties have already agreed on cabinet post allocations with the PPP getting 22 seats, Chart Thai five, Puea Pandin four, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattani two and Matchimathipataya and Pracharaj one seat each.

''The two parties [Chart Thai and Puea Pandin] decided not to hold a press conference today because they are finding a way out by saying they want to secure a joint resolution first,'' said the source.

Chuwit Kamolvisit, former deputy leader of the Chart Thai party, speaks outside the party office against Chart Thai's prospects of joining the People Power party and setting up a new government. He hit out at Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa for going back on his word to not be a part of a government led by the PPP. — THITI WANNAMONTHA

Leading figures in the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties yesterday admitted they had been approached by the PPP to form a coalition and the parties had unofficially taken up the invitation.

''Both Chart Thai and Puea Pandin have said they will stick together,'' said Warawut Silpa-archa, the son of Mr Banharn. ''As the PPP invited us separately, we need to jointly hold a press conference to announce our decisions.

''Initially, each of us unofficially accepted the [PPP's] invitation.''

PPP executives visited Mr Banharn on Saturday night in hospital where he was treated for fatigue. They asked Mr Banharn to consider joining the PPP-led coalition government.

Mr Warawut said his father told the PPP executives that the party should invite Puea Pandin as well since the two parties were political allies.

Chart Thai deputy leader Somsak Prissananantakul yesterday said leaders of the two parties would jointly hold a press conference on Wednesday and announce a joint decision on whether to join the PPP-led coalition.

A source said key PPP members, led by Somchai Wongsawat, Sampan Lertnuwat and Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont, met Puea Pandin leader Suvit Khunkitti and the party's chief adviser Vatana Asavahame yesterday at Mr Vatana's residence in Suan Luang to invite Puea Pandin to join the government.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Somchai said he was confident Puea Pandin would not turn down the offer.

''We believe the two parties will be kind to us and are ready to join us. Good news is expected in the next 2-3 days,'' he said.