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Published on September 11, 2007

Former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai will today announce the formation of the latest political bloc - to be called "For the Motherland" - which will bring together a large group of former MPs and become a "third force" in Thai politics.

Surakiart has been keeping a low profile since the coup and his failed bid for the top post at the United Nations. He has sprung a surprise by undertaking a role as powerbroker for former MPs, who were largely supporters of the Thaksin government.

The For the Motherland ("Pua Paendin") group will hold a press conference at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to announce its political future, with the slogan "Building the nation, maintaining religion and safeguarding the monarchy".

The group consists of Sanoh Thienthong, the Pracharaj party leader, and key figures of the Saman Chan group, Pinij Jarusombat, Suwit Kunkitti and Preecha Laohapongchana. It also includes Matchima group leader Somsak Thepsuthin and Suranand Vejjajiva.

Yesterday, these political personalities met with Surakiart at his luxurious office at Bangkok's downtown CentralWorld and had lunch together.

After the meeting, Suranand said the group and other political veterans would hold a news conference today at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre to declare their stand in the upcoming general election.

But he admitted it was not yet clear how they would work together or whether they should stay under a political party or join forces as political allies.

The formation of For the Motherland marks a turning point in Thai politics as it could tip the political balance in the new government. The remnants of the Thaksin regime remain strong, with Samak Sundaravej emerging as leader of the People Power Party (PPP), which has prospects of winning the largest number of MPs.

There are about 200 ex-Thai Rak Thai MPs in the PPP. But the party is not likely to win more than 240 seats necessary to gain majority control in the new government.

The Democrat, Chat Thai and Mahachon Parties, which were the opposition in the previous government, have loosely formed an alliance to contend for a bid to form the next government. But they, too, look likely to fall short of winning 240 seats.

This will give For the Motherland a crucial role to play in the formation of the next government because its vote could well tip the balance of power to either the PPP - or the Democrat-led alliance.

When asked why Ruam Jai Thai and Suwat Liptapanlop, another leader of Saman Chan, had failed to show up at the meeting to form the For the Motherland group, Snoh Thienthong said the question should be posed to those who did not come.

"As I'm a person with the most seniority, I can say that our group is trying to work for the country. I don't know whether they [Ruam Jai Thai and Saman Chan] want to work for the country or not," he said.

Somsak said he could not answer as to how many groups would be included in For the Motherland, but said the head of the new group would be known today.

Somsak denied his Matchima Group would merge with For the Motherland. "I don't know, it might be a rumour," he said.

Merger negotiations between his and other groups had been 97 per cent completed and would be finalised this week, he said.

Ruam Jai Thai group leader Pradit Patraprasit has decided to "keep an eye" on For the Motherland for the moment. He said he was about to register the establishment of Ruam Jai Thai, so there was no need for him to attend the meeting yesterday.

Suwat also wants to wait and see. He shared Pradit's view that the make-up of the new For the Motherland was not clear yet - and nobody knew who its leader would be. Moreover, he planned to restore the Chat Pattana Party so his group would not merge with any factions.

Suwat had no comment about the possibility of some of his key members leaving to join For the Motherland group.

The source said the junta was behind the Motherland Group in order to prevent the PPP from returning to power. The source added the founder of the group agreed that coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin should serve as deputy prime minister and defence minister in the next government.

The Nation