Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa and Democrat and Mahachon counterparts Abhisit Vejjajiva and Sanan Kachornprasart met yesterday for a working lunch to discuss the new charter ahead of today's conference with the Election Commission.

The multiple-MP system is similar to the upper-house elections under the defunct 1997 Constitution, which Abhisit considers does not support the party system.

"If we turn to using the multiple-MP system, local people won't know who they are selecting and may be confused. I think the system will make more trouble for the election," he said.

Abhisit called on the Council Drafting Assembly (CDA) to consider a single-MP election.

He said the three leaders also discussed the ban on political party activity - under the 30th announcement of the junta - and the financial support for political parties, so that they can discuss them with the Election Commission.

"If it is possible, we want the Council for National Security to cancel the announcement to allow parties to hold activities that relate to academic matters," the Democrat leader said.

Meanwhile, Sanan said the three leaders had not met since the coup, so the meeting was held to discuss what they can do in the future - and what issues they want to propose to the CDA.

He disputed an allegation that politicians were opposed to several proposals because they wanted to protect their interests.

Banharn agreed with the two leaders about the multiple-MP constituency, adding that the drafters were not political players like politicians, therefore the CDA should listen to their opinions over some issues in the draft. However, any suggestion will be made in the name of each party, he said.

The three leaders spent about an hour at Chon Ngoen Chon Thong restaurant.

Nerisa Nerykhiew

The Nation