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Published on August 24, 2007

Three renowned public figures expected to lead political parties in the next election announced yesterday that they would not jump onto the political bandwagon in the near future.

They are Supachai Panitch-pakdi, Chai-anan Samudavanija and Purachai Pium-sombun.

Supachai, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), said he would not be joining any political party before the end of his term, scheduled for 2009.

"I cannot join any political party over the next two years as I still have many things to complete," he said.

Asked if he was interested in becoming involved in politics after his term ends, he said: "We have to wait until the picture becomes clearer."

Supachai acknowledged that several politicians had approached him to join their parties.

In the meantime, Chai-anan said he was upset with the current political situation that saw "old, familiar faces" returning to the power game.

When he had announced he would join a political party, it was because none of these politicians was in the picture, he said.

"I'm 63, but those same groups of politicians are still around," he said.

Although he had wanted to get into politics, he changed his mind for this reason, Chai-anan said, adding that it should take at least two years to see better politics.

Chai-anan, a staunch critic of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sid he would not mind acting as an adviser to a political group.

His decision not to join any party follows Sunday's referendum on the draft constitution, after which political groups began to merge and some

veteran politicians returned to the spotlight.

Chai-anan believes some groups, mostly those containing former members of Thai Rak Thai, will eventually merge. Thus, the Democrats would be singled out.

Meanwhile, Purachai, a former interior minister, denied that he had talked with veteran Snoh Thienthong about the possibility of becoming the new leader of the Pracharaj Party.

He said he still wanted to continue in his role as a member of the National Legislative Assembly.

"I was appointed under royal endorsement, so I will complete my term," he said. However, he could not say what role he would assume after leaving the NLA post, Purachai added.