"Samak obviously stands by the government of Thaksin Shinawatra," said Lerdchai Sirichai of Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat, who is also a coordinator of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

If Samak assumes the Senate speaker's post, Lerdchai said, a climate of confrontation will return to loom over national politics, because those who backed the veteran's push for the post would inevitably be dyed-in-the-wool Thaksin-supporters. "The rise of Samak will assert a belief that Thaksin still has full power to control national politics," he said. "It will lead to a new round of tension, which could escalate into violence."

Surachet Payunyong, president of the alumni association of Mahavajiravudh Songkhla School, said Samak had done nothing for the country.

"Samak has only assaulted other people through his [defunct] TV talk shows," he said.

Samak even criticised Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, alleging that Prem had made an indirect verbal attack on Thaksin. Samak then refused to apologise for his "improper behaviour", said Surachet. "I am quite certain there is a better candidate than Samak among the 200 new senators," he said.

Since Wednesday's Senate election, in which Samak finished second for Bangkok, his name has been floated as a potential candidate for the post of Senate speaker, along with that of Klanarong Chantik, former secretary-general of the National Counter Corruption Commission.

Yesterday Thai Rak Thai MP Pracha Prasobdee came out to back Samak.

Pracha dismissed allegations Samak was a TRT nominee. "He is apparently independent of any party. I don't think anyone could control him," said Pracha.