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Published on January 19, 2008

The six-party alliance led by the People Power Party has been given the all-clear to form a coalition government to take over power from the military-appointed Surayud administration. The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed complaints seeking to invalidate last month's advance voting and the PPP's victory in the December 23 election. Earlier yesterday, the highest court ruled that the Election Commission was authorised to organise advance and absentee balloting one week ahead of the general election. Later in the day, the Supreme Court rejected a complaint made by former Democrat candidate Chaiwat Sinsuwong alleging that the PPP served as a nominee of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party.

 The Supreme Court decisions, together with the promise by the EC to expedite the validation of election results and hasten the investigations into alleged poll fraud - to ensure that the new House of Representatives holds its inaugural meeting as soon as possible - will pave the way for the formation of a new government. The new administration is expected to take office by early February.

With 460 of 480 MPs-elect confirmed by the EC by late yesterday, the new House has now achieved a quorum. PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee confirmed that the House will convene its first session on Monday, the new House Speaker will be selected on Tuesday, and a prime minister-elect will be named by Friday. After the prime minister-elect is given royal endorsement, the six parties in the coalition will attend to the business of selecting Cabinet members and preparing a policy statement to be presented to the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party, the first runner-up in the polls, is expected to serve as the sole opposition in the House of Representatives. The democratic process that started with the December 23 general election will be completed after the new prime minister leads his Cabinet in a swearing-in ceremony before His Majesty the King. The new democratically-elected government will then take over from the interim government and the country will revert to democracy following 16 months of military rule.

It is hoped that the executive, legislature and judiciary will function smoothly in the administration of the country based on the supremacy of the rule of law. We expect each branch to serve as a check and balance against the other to ensure the system serves the best interest of the people and gives adequate protection to minorities and holders of dissenting views. The armed forces are expected to submit to the authority of the elected civilian government, disentangle themselves from politics and go back to their barracks.

The first major task of the new government is to bring reconciliation to a nation that is split between the urban middle-class and the rural masses. The problem goes far beyond the polarisation of politics, as the two opposing groups are also separated by a yawning gap in terms of socio-economic standing and conflicting views over what constitutes fair distribution of national wealth. The new government must strive to become the government of all people, regardless of whether or not they voted for or against the ruling parties in the coalition. The new prime minister, regardless of who he is, must do his utmost to make sure that Thailand's new-found democracy gets off to a good start.

 Thailand has suffered enough politically, economically and socially during the past few turbulent years. The period has been characterised by misrule, corruption and a military dictatorship that altogether have exacted a high price on the economy and society at large. One of the top priorities for the government is to restore confidence among the Thai public and the country's credibility in the eyes of the international community.

The best way to achieve this is through the normalisation of political, economic and social processes. The pro-Thaksin PPP must not interfere in the criminal justice system, particularly in the ongoing criminal proceedings against Thaksin and his family in connection with corruption scandals. This will be the real test for the new government. Winning elections and gaining political power does not mean the government can abuse its authority and undermine the rule of law. Thailand, as a society, must do whatever it takes to break away from the vicious circle that keeps our hard-won democracy down.

The Nation