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Published on September 15, 2007

The formation of a political party by the Pua Paendin (For the Motherland) Group has hit a snag after its designated emissary yesterday expressed reluctance to convince Supachai Panitchpakdi to leave his UN post and accept the leadership.

"I have to evaluate the political situation before talking to Supachai," Korn Dabbaransri said in an interview with Channel 9.

"Supachai is very committed to his job as director-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and I don't want to talk to him before having a full understanding about the new party," he said.

Korn is presently visiting China and is expected to return to Bangkok tonight.

He said he had not been told of his role before Snoh Thienthong of the Pracharaj Party announced it on Wednesday.

He said he hoped to see the new party further consolidated in order to sway Supachai.

The two last saw each other in Bangkok in May.

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, meanwhile, expressed scepticism as to whether Supachai would accept the leadership of the new party.

"Supachai is a Democrat at heart and I don't see how or why he would quit his job, which he takes very seriously. Nor would he defect to another party," he said. "If he wants to become a party leader,  the Democrat Party can also offer that opportunity for him."

Chuan said Supachai was

a man of principle and unlikely to accept any offers on a whim.

He played down any attempts to lure Supachai from the Democrats, arguing that he remained loyal to the Democrat banner even though he was once a failed electoral candidate.

A source familiar with the matter said yesterday that Pua Paendin would likely turn to former House speaker Arthit Urairat if Supachai declined to lead the group's party.

Key figures in the group agreed that Arthit should be nominated to lead the new party, the source said.

Arthit, when serving as the speaker in 1992, won much praise for deciding to nominate a non-elected Anand Panyarachun as caretaker prime minister after General Suchinda Kraprayoon stepped down in the wake of an uprising against him.

Arthit favoured Anand over an elected politician who was seen as less efficient.

Under the announced timetable, Pua Paendin plans to have Supachai installed as its leader in time for the planned registration of the party on Thursday.

According to another source, political veteran Suwit Khunkitti will be asked to serve as an interim leader should Supachai refuse the leadership offer.

However, the recruitment of Supachai is seen as pivotal because of his potential as premier, which could turn the new party into a credible "third force" to form the next coalition government.

The new party is hoping to realign the politics mired by two rival camps who are for and against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Nation