Banharn said, however, he did not expect Thaksin to follow his advice.

It was possible Thaksin had already selected a new prime minister but was keeping it himself, Banharn said. The Chat Thai leader said this was the wrong way to go about ending the political impasse. It was more important to find a way to open Parliament than to worry about who should be the next premier, he said.

Commenting on the decision by an Election Commission sub-committee that Thaksin did not violate electoral laws during the last campaign, Banharn said it could be considered selective judgement, as opposition parties might not see a similar decision. However, the commission is authorised to make judgements and others must accept them, he said.

Banharn said he supported the commission's decision to revert to the old style of positioning election booths to face election staff, saying the commission should listen to voters. Many voters complained that in the last election booths were arranged in a way that made it difficult for them to vote privately.

Banharn said he opposed the plan for political reform proposed by Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Bhokin Bhalakula that would see a large number of representatives of many interest groups meet to propose changes. This would take too much time, Banharn said.

He said only some sections of the Constitution should be changed. He raised two clauses for possible changes. The requirements that candidates for the Lower House must be members of a political party for at least 90 days before registering to run and that a party must receive 5 per cent of eligible votes to elect party-list MPs should be changed, he said.

Prapasri Osathanon, The Nation