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Published on January 28, 2008

The party will discuss its policies with coalition allies on Wednesday and the final draft will be completed in February.

"Our policies will get first priority even though there might be some alterations," Noppadon said.

In the draft, the party has maintained policies that brought the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party to the height of its popularity, including the Village Fund, education loans, the two- and three-digit lotteries, CEO governors, debt moratoriums, village banks, the "million cattle" project and the war on drugs.

Noppadon said the party's discussions about the finance minister's post had not reached any conclusion and it was open to appointing an outsider or a party member.

He denied reports some members of the coalition parties had left for Hong Kong to negotiate with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra about Cabinet posts.

He did not rule out the possibility that some People Power MPs had met Thaksin in Hong Kong, saying they had the right to visit him if they missed him.

Noppadon, who is Thaksin's lawyer, said the ousted PM would not sue Matichon daily newspaper for mocking Thaksin by editing his picture in a monk's saffron robe and comparing his situation with that of former prime minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

He said Thaksin was very upset about it because he could come back to Thailand without having to be a monk. Although Thaksin is a public figure, he deserved respect from the media, he added.

The Nation