No sign of an end to the impasse

Now that Somchai Wongsawat has stepped down, all attention is on the choice of a new prime minister. After the Constitution Court ruled to dissolve the three major parties in the coalition, it was hoped by some that the change would improve the political atmosphere. As things stand, that prospect does not look promising.

Unfortunately, the names of the potential candidates for the premiership have come from the same old group of politicians in the incumbent coalition. The court ruled to dissolve these parties to show that electoral fraud was unacceptable. The members of the coalition parties are manoeuvring to form a government that will be much the same as the one that was just disbanded.

The Somchai government was accused of being the nominee of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, with its attempt to place high priority on constitutional change in favour of Thaksin and to give amnesties to the banned executive members of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party instead of focusing on urgent issues, especially economic woes.

The public's discontent with the last two governments has brought down Samak Sundaravej and now Somchai. The court has made it clear that it decided to punish these three parties to set a political standard. The court said if electoral fraud were allowed to continue, the vicious political cycle would never end. The current Constitution was designed to prevent this kind of unacceptable practice.

However, politicians have shown no remorse after the court's decision. Some parties knew the fraud case was valid and had even set up new parties knowing their old ones would be dissolved. The same old cycle with the same old politicians seems to be never-ending. These parties stubbornly continue to argue that they should be entitled to form the government because they control the majority of seats in the House. If the coalition parties try to form a new government based on the incumbent coalition, the political paralysis might continue.

There are growing calls, including from the private sector, for the new prime minister to be more acceptable to the public.

But the coalition parties are talking about nominating Chalerm Yoobamrung as the new premier under the Puea Thai Party banner. If this is the case, it shows that these politicians fail to acknowledge the depth of the crisis. Politics is also about perceptions, and Chalerm is seen to be a close ally of Thaksin. Besides, his past record will convince few people that he is fit to become the head of this country's government, especially during this crisis.

While we disagree with the People's Alliance for Democracy's seizure of the airports to press for their demands, Chalerm's nomination is likely to bring protesters out onto the streets again. The paralysis will continue if no one wants to make a sacrifice.

The public feels exhausted with the current situation. Politicians must show that they place high priority on the national interest instead of pushing for the third generation of Thaksin nominees to head the government.

Thailand needs the cooperation of all sides, to mobilise the expertise and knowledge of all parties to rebuild and rehabilitate the nation. There's an urgent need for people to bridge their differences and repair divisions. These politicians must realise what is best for the country.

Instead of rushing to convene a House meeting on Monday to select the new premier, MPs should instead clear the issues concerning the transfer of politicians from one party to another, particularly in the case of party-list politicians, whom voters chose not on an individual basis but because of the parties with which they were affiliated. For instance: can party-list politicians transfer from one party to another while maintaining their MP status?

In the meantime, all politicians need to sit down in sincerity and think about how to rebuild the public trust. They should show the public that Parliament can provide answers. Otherwise, the country will sink into anarchy again.