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Published on December 28, 2007

The Democrats will respect the outcome of the Election Commission's investigation into electoral fraud, said party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Regardless of who forms the government, the next administration must put the interests of the country at the centre of its policies and should focus on reviving economic and political confidence, he said.

The Democrat leader pledged that he would not interfere with the EC's investigation into allegations of fraud and played down the summoning of a Democrat Party candidate in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The candidate has been handed a "yellow card" by the EC following allegations of campaign violation.

 Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said he had not held any talks with other parties about forming a government.

The Democrats have appointed Suthep as the person responsible for handling negotiations with other parties.

Suthep admitted to having an informal chat with Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa late on the night of the election, but insisted it was  not about the formation of the next government.

He said he was on the phone with the Puea Pandin's Pinij Charusombat, discussing the outcome of the election, when the phone was passed over to the Chart Thai leader who was in the area at the time.

When asked about what was discussed with the two political heavyweights, Suthep said "the results of the poll", which he found "surprisingly low" for both Puea Pandin and Chart Thai.

Suthep said the Democrat Party was prepared to lead the country if given a chance to form the next government.

Being part of a coalition government, he said, would make the Democrats extra-careful and less complacent when implementing the new government's policies.

And if the Democrat Party becomes part of the opposition in Parliament, one of its objectives would be to ensure that government officers are treated fairly.

He said 165 was a considerable number of seats for an opposition party, and a sizeable portion of the 480-seat Parliament that cannot be dismissed easily by the government.

Suthep downplayed suggestions of any irregularities or involvement in the Council for the National Security's meeting with the EC on Wednesday.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

 The Nation