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Chai Chidchob insists that his rise to the position of House speaker-designate is due mainly to his "goodness". While we appreciate his sincere habit of self-flattery - his more famous statement being that his son Newin Chidchob is more gorgeous than Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva - Chai has obviously overlooked many things. One of them is, of course, the fact that throughout the long political career of this 80-year-old man, the most publicised - if not the only - praise for his integrity has come from himself.

Chai replaces the controversial Yongyuth Tiyapairat, who had to bow out because of accusations of electoral fraud. Both men seem to have drawing power when it comes to inviting negative media reactions in the wake of their ascendancy to House positions. Between the two of them it is hard to determine who makes the other look good.

Mysterious abstentions in the House vote that elected Chai, rumblings of disgruntlement from the Chart Thai Party and even rumours of discontent from within the People Power Party itself may serve to counter Chai's claims that he rose to the position primarily because of his virtues. This is not to mention the fact that the supposedly "clean" politician is fighting charges of land encroachment, although he has been adamant that the scandal was politically motivated.

Whether or not Chai has been a good politician, most observers attributed his rise to House speaker to the strong influence of his son, Newin Chidchob, who is one of the 111 former executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party who have been stripped of their electoral rights for five years. Newin's role in the ongoing resurrection of the old power belonging to Thaksin Shinawatra is no secret and Chai was among those who narrowly missed Cabinet posts when the Samak government was formed.

Taking Chai's age and Newin's influence into account, in addition to the older Chidchob's questionable legislative expertise, the election of the new House speaker only seems to underscore the deformities of current Thai politics. The use of "nominees" pervaded the general election, tainted the formation of Cabinet and now they are staking their presence in Parliament.

Anyone who doubts that Thaksin Shinawatra is still pulling the strings should only look at Chai's rise. It fits the existing pattern of Thai politics in which the has-beens and unknowns have been paraded in to take key positions that will make or break the former prime minister's future. Parliament obviously is the main battleground because that's where constitutional amendments - the only way that Thaksin can be eased back to power -have to take place.

That the People Power Party needed to have one of its own men take over the House speaker position is understandable. What is a bit more difficult to understand is why the party is risking its unity for Newin's sake. There were a few better qualified and younger candidates not tainted by scandals, but the party opted for a choice that led to outside ridicule and internal strife.

Chai's rise is comparable to Chalerm Yoobamrung's appointment as interior minister - two highly controversial figures in highly important posts. Like Newin, Chalerm is known as a key figure in Thaksin's comeback. All this tells us a lot about what is in store for Thailand. The "war" will continue, as people in key positions apparently were not placed there to serve the public interest, but to do dirty work perhaps.

Rivals do whatever it takes in a war. Chai's ascension, at least, tells us this much.