Abhisit offers a glimmer of hope

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva looks set to get a chance to prove he can be a prime minister worth his salt. He has a good way with words, but soon it will be time to put his rhetoric into action.

As opposition leader, Abhisit has been consistent in exposing the flawed leadership of three prime ministers - Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, who, in his view, were a root cause of the political predicament.

Expectations are high that Abhisit, who can "saw through" his three predecessors, should be able to avoid repeating their mistakes. It remains to be seen whether he will heed the very advice he has so painstakingly given to others in a bid to overcome the turmoil.

In spite of the excitement about the last-ditch fight by Pheu Thai Party, the installation of Abhisit as Thailand's 27th prime minister is expected to be completed before the New Year celebrations.

Formation of the Cabinet will definitely be a litmus test for Abhisit's leadership. The country will have a better chance of achieving stability if Abhisit and his coalition partners think things through instead of making hasty choices for their Cabinet line-up.

If Abhisit allows partisan interests to dominate the horse-trading for Cabinet seats, his government is bound for doom even before taking off.

Disturbing allegations have already been circulating that the Chart Thai Pattana Party will hold on to ministerial portfolios previously allocated by the Somchai government to the disbanded Chart Thai Party and that the Friends of Newin faction will get plum assignments relating to the mega-projects for mass transport in Bangkok.

The credibility of the Cabinet and prospect of ministers being able to work as a team are key factors in restoring public confidence. A Democrat-led coalition could become a problem rather than a solution if it blindly subscribes to the partisan quotas condoned by the outgoing administration.

"If the Democrat Party forms the government, I will try to boost confidence and revive the tourism industry and the image of the country," Abhisit said in his first interview on Sunday, after emerging as the top contender for the premiership.

In his subsequent remarks, he emphasised that he would do away with the quota system when allocating Cabinet seats to Democrats, although he was still obligated to heed nominations submitted by coalition partners.

In light of global economic turmoil and domestic political woes, it is imperative that Abhisit carefully handpicks his ministers with two essential qualifications - a proven track record to brace the economy for the slowdown and a sensibility not to inflame animosity with the disbanded ruling party, which has transformed into the Pheu Thai Party.

For the past three years, the country has suffered untold damage inflicted by the "take-no-prisoners" fight between the government and its opponents, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

In May the PAD-led street protests resumed after the Samak government insisted on amending the Constitution, a move which its rivals said was planned for ulterior motives - to help their party avoid being disbanded by the courts and help former premier Thaksin to evade prosecution for cases of alleged corruption during his time in power.

Abhisit should remind himself not to repeat the politically fatal mistake of Samak, who kept on feuding with the PAD and exacerbated his problems. One of Abhisit's top priorities should be to pacify anti-coup activists, and prevent them having any pretext to organise full-blown street protests.

The country and economy cannot afford a new round of instability inflicted by red-shirt mobs after the serious damage done by the yellow-shirted protesters (PAD).

If Abhisit manages to pick good, honest and competent ministers who can work as team players, if he can be an inspired leader in troubled times, and if he can bring necessary changes to the political system through a charter rewrite without that process descending into a political feud, the country will be close to being back on course.

This might appear to be a tall order from Abhisit's leadership, though not an unreasonable demand on a capable leader who volunteers to serve.