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A PPP source said that while the PPP would nominate outgoing prime minister Samak Sundaravej to keep the premiership, the party anticipated a House dissolution after the 2009 Budget Bill is passed through the parliamentary process.

The Chat Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties have agreed to let PPP decide on the nominee for prime minister. However, Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong said nominating Samak, who was disqualified, back to office would only increase political problems. PPP should avoid choosing people who would be targets of protests again, he said.

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee and deputy leaders Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat yesterday met Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa at the Chat Thai headquarters, and also met Snoh at his house.

Snoh proposed that the PPP and Democrat parties form the government and talk to the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy to end the political conflicts.

He said people are not likely to support Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the new prime minister because the majority had voted for the PPP to form government.

Moreover, the PPP must clear people's perception of a connection with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It should stop promoting support of Thaksin, such as red T-shirts, to prevent provocative feelings.

Snoh said if his suggestions were ignored, he might not vote to select the prime minister in a House meeting on Friday.

Meanwhile, Banharn said he would stick to the party's principle of letting the party with the most seats in the House form the government. If it cannot succeed then the job belongs to the party with the second-most seats.

Banharn said the new prime minister should be able to connect to all groups to prevent more rifts in society and in the PPP. Moreover, the new government should avoid any large projects that could be questioned or criticised.

Chat Thai will meet this morning to get the party's resolution again, he said.

PPP deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat said he was confident the coalition parties would continue to stick together. Although Banharn would let PPP decide, it would have to listen to coalition parties before deciding to nominate a prime minister.

Matchima Thipataya Party leader Anongwan Thepsuthin, the caretaker natural resources and environment minister, said all parties should follow laws and stick to the principles that the coalition parties had agreed to.

"Now I want people to focus on organisations and principles, not on persons who might not be 100-per-cent satisfactory to all, but the principle says we have to agree on whoever is nominated by the party with the most seats in the House," she said.

Puea Pandin Narathiwat MP Waemahadee Waedao said he would not follow the party's resolution if Samak was nominated back to office, as it is an MP's right to do so.

Puea Pandin Party leader Suwit Khunkitti said he had not been contacted by other parties. However, he would focus on reconciliation.