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Published on December 21, 2007

"If it is extremely necessary for a national government to emerge, then the PPP is ready to cooperate with every party, including the Democrats," PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said in an interview with Channel 9 yesterday.

However, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader, said his party and the PPP would definitely not join the same coalition.

"We can work together in Parliament as a government and opposition party who respect each other. But not joined up as the same government," Abhisit said on Channel 5.

Abhisit repeated his stand that Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa would be his coalition partner if the Democrats do win the race.

"I have been working with Chart Thai for the past two years and will have to think of my friends first, otherwise I am not a worthy man," he said.

Abhisit said he was ready to welcome Banharn should he agree to endorse the Democrat platforms and the 99-day action plan.

With regards to speculation that Chart Thai might team up with the People Power Party, he said he would not stoop to being petty or suspicious of Banharn's loyalty.

Meanwhile, Surapong said his party was trying to garner a majority of votes for the formation of its coalition and that party leader Samak Sundaravej was ready for the job as prime minister.

He dismissed speculation that his party would nominate him as the premier and designate Samak to the job of House speaker.

At this juncture, the PPP's top priority is campaigning and not worrying about the various formulas for forming a coalition, Surapong said, adding that any serious negotiations with coalition partners would need the voting outcome as a starting point.

He said his party would not repeat its mistake of forming a government that is so strong it can be perceived as a parliamentarian dictatorship.

He said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would return to Thailand to clear his name through due process following the balloting.

In a u-turn, he said his party would not rush to grant amnesty to the 111 banned party executives nor would it dismantle the Assets Examination Committee because it was close to the end of its term.

Samak said he did not think the PPP would be isolated because such a party could not get any votes. He also insisted he would contact and negotiate with other parties to join the PPP coalition himself because he is on personal terms with every politician.

 The Nation