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Published on December 15, 2007

The party may instead send Mingkwan Sangsuwan to the People's Network for Elections-arranged debate.

"I am always ready to face Samak. He had better sit here [in a debate]," Abhisit said, adding Samak had been electioneering without challenge.

He said if Samak wanted to be leader of the country, he had to be ready to confront intellectual challenge. That is the way to true democracy, he said.

A debate would allow voters to really see the vision, stance and thoughts of those who want to be prime minister.

"I realise Samak and his party do not want to debate with me because they do not want to discuss the real substance of the election - the direction and future of the country after the election," he said.

Meanwhile, People Power secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Samak was too busy with the election campaign to attend the debate.

Mingkwan might represent the party. He heads its economic team. Key members Yongyuth Tiyapairat or Chalerm Yoobamrung could represent it, too, he said.

P-Net secretary-general Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told Samak that voters needed to see the competence of Samak and Abhisit because they were the top contenders for prime minister.

The Nation