Samak not suitable to run: CPD

CPD secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said Samak's use of aggressive tactic to side-step reporters' questions prompted to lack qualifications to offer himself as a candidate for the post of prime minister.

Last week, Samak burst out against a reporter who asked him whether two former executives of the Thai Rak Thai Party had helped planned party-list candidates for the People Power. Samak yelled at the reporter: "Did you have sinful sex last night?'

Suriyasai's said Samak's aggressive behaviour against reporters was a kind of deliberated intimidation against press freedom.

He said Samak had shown that he would intervene in the freedom of the media if he became the next prime minister.

He said Samak as the party leader was required to give explanations to the public over issues related to his party.

Suriyasai said Samak also indicated that the favoured divisiveness in the country by challenging the people not to vote for his party if they did not like him. He said Samak was using the same divide-and-rule strategy of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"The CPD sees that Samak is not suitable to offer himself as a candidate for the post of prime minister," Suriyasai said.

The Nation