Banharn says he will not join Cabinet

Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa pledged yesterday that neither he nor members of his family would be in the Cabinet line-up and explained his decision to join the coalition alliance.

"I decided in the country's interest, as we must have a government and that government must be stable," he said, justifying his about-turn to team up with the People Power Party because a Democrat-led coalition would have only had a narrow majority.

He spoke at the party executive meeting ahead of yesterday's opening of Parliament.

Banharn said the voting outcome for Chart Thai fell short by 10 House seats because of public sentiment.

Citing the balloting results as a reason, he said his critics could not come up with any practical alternative for the People Power-led coalition.

"For myself and family members, we do not aspire to secure any political appointments and my children will not be ministers - we just want a good government and a stable economy," he said.

To back up his claim of having no political ambitions, he said everyone should read an excerpt of the interview given by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra published by the Matichon newspaper yesterday. Thaksin said he had just talked with Banharn following the December 23 election and that Banharn had no desire to become the prime minister.

Commenting on the new government, the party leader said he would not nominate a candidate for the position of deputy House speaker and that the Chart Thai would endorse the prime minister nominated by People Power.

He dismissed speculation his party had been allocated five Cabinet seats, saying that formal negotiations on the issue have not started yet.

The coalition partners were expected to negotiate the ministerial portfolios after the naming of the new prime minister later this week, he said.

Chart Thai has set no pre-conditions on job assignment and it would give priority to veteran party members, he added.

Banharn said he would meet with Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to explain his decision after the government was formed.

Chart Thai chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart said it was too early to finalise the Cabinet line-up when the immediate issue was about the nomination of the prime minister.

Sanan said his party would fully back the alliance although it had to wait for the People Power to finalise its decision on the position of prime minister.

He dismissed a rumour that he would receive the agriculture portfolio, saying he was not eager for any particular job as he had already held many key positions in the past.

The Nation