I could tell you clearly about all the decisions I have made in every situation throughout my 14-year career. If you think [so much of Thaksin's decision-making prowess], I want to ask a question: What do his decisions lead to? I think his decisions are part of the problem now. If you expect me to be the same person as Thaksin, you should vote for him.

Our country today doesn't want a person like Thaksin to rule it. If you say [I'm slow to make decisions], why did I launch my TV spots before Thaksin?

 I believe the members of my party demonstrated their confidence in me when they decided to choose me as a leader to lead the party into participatory politics. Otherwise, they had many other choices.

Your wife appears in your TV spots. Do you think she can compete with Thaksin's wife, Khunying Pojaman?

My wife has never thought of competing with what Thaksin's wife does. We have a different view about the political role [of a premier's wife]. I think a prime minister's wife should focus on social activities without seeking a political role. Otherwise [the spouse] should become a politican herself [if she seeks a political role]. If my wife takes a role in the party, members might demand she donate 99 per cent of the party's income.

What is the message you want to convey by introducing your wife?

I have dedicated myself to being an MP, so people have the right to know about my private life - that I have a wife and two kids.

Do you want the people to think you are a family man?

In fact, the duty of the head of a family is to protect his family. It's not a matter for the public. When I go shopping with my wife, I don't have to call a photographer to take our photos.

People think your family is an obstacle to your political career?

I don't think my lifestyle affects my work. My political point of view may be different from that of others.

It seems that you are following in Thaksin's footsteps, both in terms of television spots and populist policies, whilst campaigning.

I don't think so. If I was following in Thaksin's footsteps, I would never talk of honesty, [fighting] corruption and education - areas where he has failed.

In fact, I'm the first person to speak about a populist policy. But if a populist policy means one that makes people weak, benefits the country in the short term but fails and damages it in the long term, I assure you that it will never be in our "People's Agenda."

What is your party's campaign strategy for the Northeast, your rival's stronghold?

The Northeast is the most difficult area for us to make a headway in. It's not about the money. It's about the feelings of the voters towards political parties.

Our number of MPs in the Northeast has been small since the election in 1996. I don't think it will be worse than in the last year's election, when we won only two seats.

What is your policy on press freedom?

We will promulgate a law to protect the rights and the freedom of the media. We, the Democrats, have kept this issue in our minds.

When we were in the government, we never interfered with the media; not even in the [content of the] government-controlled media. When we ruled the country the TV programme "Krong Satanakarn" on TV11 invited guests to criticise our government. But currently, only government supporters are invited to appear on the programme.

If your party forms the government, will you, like Thaksin, have a weekly radio programme?

Yes. But after the "PM Meets the People" programme is finished, we would allow another programme called the "Opposition Party Leader Meets the People" [to follow my radio address immediately].

How would you prepare issues for the live TV debate to which you have challenged Thaksin?

I don't mind about the issues, the format, or when or where the debate will take place. It might be about his achievements in the past five years, economics, politics, or his family's business share sales.

It didn't surprise me to hear him say "Don't rush." However, I need an answer as to why he didn't accept the challenge. What is he afraid of?