Industry heads call for new style govt

They said the new government must have the capability to tackle economic problems.

"We want a switch of the coalition government, but it seems that this could be very difficult to do because of their fewer votes in Parliament. The current political situation is similar to Black May in 1992. We don't want our politics stuck in a deadlock again," said Pornsilp Patchrintanakul, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

It is clear that the private sector and the media would like Parliament to give a chance to the Democrat Party to form the new government because the old formula led by the defunct People Power Party (PPP), which is transforming itself into the Puea Thai Party, might not work.

Pornsilp said the new prime minister should exhibit five qualities - honesty, good ethics, strong leadership, good management, and freedom from conflicts of interest.

"If the new prime minister lacks any one of these, the country will stay at risk," he said.

Key former PPP leaders suggested that dissolving the House is the best step to ending the political crisis, as the next government would be in danger of falling apart again, a source from the defunct party said.

"If we hasten to vote for the new PM who comes from the Puea Thai Party, the anti-government protesters will rally again. The caretaker prime minister should dissolve the House to return power to the people," the source said.

"What is worse than that, it is likely that the military would stage a coup to end the political conflict between the anti- and pro-Thaksin camps. This coup may lead to an interim government for two to five years," the source said.

However, acting prime minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said he would not dissolve the House unless there were political difficulties.

The Democrat Party is also seeking a chance to form the government, which would only be possible if it could attract enough MPs defecting from the disbanded political parties.

Sources said the Democrats have been in talks with MPs of the government bloc on the possibility of their moving over.

Newin Chidchob's faction of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party is looking at the winds of change and might not migrate to Puea Thai because it does not support Chalerm Yoobamrung as the new prime minister.

Some observers said Newin's group might desert the government and join a Democrat-led coalition government along with other coalition partners.

With his long experience, Chuan Leekpai might make a comeback as premier during this critical time, which begs for a leader who can heal the wounds created by the social and political divide, they added.