Democrats hoping defectors will help it set up a new govt

At the party meeting yesterday, Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban put some MPs and executive members in charge of a large-scale lobbying effort, the source said.

A faction from the disbanded People Power Party, whose members are loyal to banned politician Newin Chidchob, has been approached to join a Democrat-led coalition, the source added.

Suthep said he had spoken to Newin, who had said his people would only back the Democrats on condition that Chuan Leekpai be nominated for the country's top job, source said.

Chuan is a former leader and chief adviser of the party.

However, Suthep turned down the proposal because the Democrats are firm about nominating party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister. And some members of Newin's faction have reportedly said they would back Abhisit.

Sanan Kachornprasart, chief adviser to the disbanded Chart Thai Party who was previously Democrat secretary-general, was also approached to join a Democrat-led coalition. Sanan and MPs loyal to him yesterday met some key Democrat figures to discuss the possibility of his faction working with the party, according to the source.

The source also said that Sanan's participation might bring support from Pradit Pataraprasit, secretary-general of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party. Pradit was a trusted aide to Sanan when they were in the Democrat Party and afterwards they formed the now-defunct Mahachon Party.

According to the source, the lobbying would be done at three levels, with individual MPs approaching politicians as well as factions, while Suthep approaches leaders of targeted parties.

The progress of their lobbying efforts will be discussed at the next Democrat meeting on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Snoh Thienthong, leader of the coalition Pracharaj Party, said yesterday that he was against the idea of having outspoken politician Chalerm Yoobamrung take over as prime minister and of the Democrat Party forming a new government.

The veteran politician said Chalerm, who was part of the now-defunct People Power Party, should be taken off the short list of PM candidates.

"It's not that he is not a good person. It's just that making him prime minister would be like setting fire to your home," Snoh said.

Chalerm served as public health minister in the Cabinet that is now in shaky grounds with the dismissal of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. Snoh also said it would be "undignified" for the Democrat Party to form a new government with defectors from dissolved coalition parties, adding that Abhisit's remark that the party would never be able to form a new government without support from the defectors had upset him

The politician said a "neutral figure" from a smaller party should be allowed to become the next prime minister "in order to retain the system". However, he added that he would not accept any offers for him to become next PM.