Poll: Invite Abhisit to dinner date
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva should be invited to attend a reconciliation dinner between caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa, if and when the meeting happens, according to half the respondents in an opinion survey. Thaksin and Banharn plan to meet over dinner some time after Thursday, when Banharn returns from a private visit to the United States.
The planned dinner, to discuss a possible solution to the political crisis, will be off-limits to the press. Thaksin has invited only Banharn as his guest. The Abac Poll asked 1,541 people in Bangkok for their opinion on the dinner. One in two respondents said Abhisit's presence would help in forging the political reconciliation, and the list of dinner guests should also include anti-Thaksin campaigner Sondhi Limthongkul, Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, People's Alliance for Democracy leader Chamlong Srimuang and leaders of all the major parties. Asked whether Thaksin and Banharn might discuss other issues than reconciliation, one in four said they suspected the two might talk about mutual political interests. One in three believed Thaksin and Banharn might form an alliance and it was possible a Thai Rak Thai-Chat Thai coalition government would emerge after the October 15 election. One in four said Thaksin was sincere about mending fences with his opponents. Respondents were split when asked whether Thaksin should step aside. About 40 per cent said they opposed his departure, citing his work performance. Of the remaining 60 per cent, half said they wanted his resignation in order to end the crisis, and the other half said they had no opinion on the matter.
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