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Published on November 25, 2007

 Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejja-jiva yesterday downplayed a doom scenario fraught with power struggles following the December 23 poll, though not many political observers share his optimism.

"With 30 days left for campaigning, I am determined to do my best, because I believe the Democrats are offering the best choice for voters," he said.

Constituents are showing enthusiasm for his party's "people agenda", and this is a strong signal to other parties to stop bickering and work the hustings based on policy issues, he said.

Concern about post-election power-sharing is unjustified at this time because all parties are busy wooing votes, he said.

He shrugged off comments by Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa indicating that his party was no longer committed to the Democrats, saying he would not read too much into Banharn's campaign quotes.

"Every party has the same goal of seeing the country moving forward," he said, pouring cold water on speculation that Banharn might team up with the Democrats' rivals to form the next government.

"There are so many formulas for power-sharing, but a coalition will have to be based on the election outcome," he said, in reference to talk about a Chart Thai-People Power-Matchima Thipatataya grouping.

He also denied allegations that his party was involved in removing Matchima campaign posters in Bangkok.

Political observer Pramote Nakornthap said he saw the general election as a war of the old power versus the new.

The old power is spearheaded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is living in exile in London, via the People Power Party, while the new power consists of those wielding influence following the September 19, 2006 coup.

"If the PPP wins the election, political pandemonium may break out," he said.

Kasetsart University lecturer Phuwadon Songprasert saw turmoil regardless of the result.

The election will be a problem rather than a solution because of the lack of a strong civic society to curb the influence of coalition partners in power, he said.

The poll has almost no meaning for the public as it was designed as a hasty exit for the failed interim government, as a pretext for ousted leaders to settle scores and as a chance for a new coalition to assume power, he said.

Activist Pipop Thongchai warned that the country might suffer collateral damage as Thaksin and his opponents fought their war via the election.

Pipop said the chaos would likely persist for three years.

PPP leader Samak Sundaravej said he remained upbeat about his party leading the next coalition, although he would not presume anything on alliances. "As Banharn said earlier, the coalition will emerge three days after the voting, not now," he said.

The focus is on campaigning, and in the next few days his party will unveil its economic team, he said, adding that he would take charge of the mass-transport system for Bangkok.

Samak hinted about elevating economic issues as highlights of his campaign. Several opinion polls have shown the PPP trailing the Democrats by a wide margin. PPP campaign managers said on Friday that they would shift tactics and stop attacking the junta in order to counter the Democrats.

General Somchet Boonthanom, head of the junta's office, said he viewed the change in the PPP's direction as a constructive development for the restoration of democratic rule.

"The ballot is about democracy, not revenge on the Council for National Security," he said.

Although the PPP has many remnants of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, it is a completely new party and should concentrate on its own platform instead of bearing grudges from before it came into existence, he said.

Junta spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnoed said soldiers would assist the Election Commission in keeping peace around the polling stations and secure the tallying of votes.

Election Commissioner Somchai Juengprasert said he expected the investigation into the vote-buying case involving three PPP candidates in Nakhon Ratchasima to be completed next week.

The EC will rule on Tuesday whether to open another vote-buying probe in Sa Kaew, he added.

The Nation