Somchai seems the best bet from PPP

His wife Yaowapa, the younger sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was a member of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party and lost her voting right when the party was dissolved. His daughter Chinnicha is the youngest female MP in the current House of Representatives, though she represents Chiang Mai.

But Somchai's strength lies in his soft and gentle character, which is why he would be the perfect person to negotiate an end to political tensions with the anti-government group, People's Alliance for Democracy.

As caretaker PM, Somchai on Sunday announced the lifting of the state of emergency and sounded quite sympathetic towards the protesters.

Even Democrat Party's secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said a few days ago that Somchai was the best compared to other PPP candidates - PPP deputy leader Sompong Amornwiwat and secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee.

He said Somchai had never defended Thaksin despite their family connection and that his decency should be almost guaranteed because of his former jobs as judge and permanent secretary of justice.

Meanwhile, Pracharaj leader Snoh Thienthong is pinning his hopes on Somchai making a deal with the Democrats. His reasoning is that Somchai was born in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat; he was permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry under Democrat adviser and MP Suthas Ngernmuen; and that Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai was his law teacher.

Somchai was justice permanent secretary from 1999 to 2006, and then became permanent secretary for the Labour Ministry.

Nevertheless, things may end up differently if Somchai is seen as a Thaksin nominee.

After all, his brother-in-law did give him a hand in soaring to the top, both in the party and in the Samak Sundaravej government, despite his inexperience in the field of politics.

In 2003, when Somchai was permanent secretary of justice, he made headlines for conflicting with then-justice minister Purachai Piumsombun over the ministry's budget.

Purachai, who was famous for his honesty and strong views, said he was forced to approve the budget without being given enough time to consider it. After four months in the post, Thaksin removed Purachai from the Justice Minstry and made him a deputy prime minister. However, we are still unclear what or who helped Thaksin end this conflict.

With a person as quiet as Somchai, some people are wondering if his flexibility is just on the surface and that, in reality, he is as uncompromising as they come.

Still, Somchai has already shown the public that he is charismatic and powerful enough - he has survived conflicts with power players like Purachai, is now the caretaker PM and may soon become the leader of PPP.