Spoil Isaan : Newin tells Abhisit

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has received good advice from former adversary Newin Chidchob: "If you were to dish Bt100 billion into Isaan, pretty soon the Isaan people would forget Thaksin [Shinawatra]."

The irony of Thai politics was played out fully at the Siam City Hotel yesterday when Abhisit presented a bouquet of roses to Newin before hugging and shaking hands.

Newin, who has been banned from politics for five years, still musters serious political clout because a faction of 37 MPs from the defunct People Power Party offer a crucial swing vote to catapult Abhisit into the premiership.

In 1995, Newin launched a fierce no-confidence debate that critically brought down the Democrat-led government. And until just recently he had been considered Thaksin's right-hand man.

Newin told Abhisit that if, after assuming the top office, he were to focus on helping people in the Northeast - such as raising the guaranteed price for maize from Bt1.80 to Bt2 per kilo - he would certainly win their hearts.

"If the Democrats can perform in a way that wins over the Isaan people's hearts, the people there would soon forget Thaksin," he reportedly told Abhisit. "Other programmes at the ground level for the Northeast must be clear and tangible. The Isaan people would give the Democrats a chance. The government should stay on for at least two years."

Abhisit now appears to be just a few steps away from taking over as Thailand's 27th prime minister.

Yesterday key leaders of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin, Matchima Thipataya and Chart Thai Pattana parties met at the Four Seasons Hotel to reaffirm their support for the Democrats to become the core of a new coalition government.

Along with additional support from the Newin faction and other MPs, Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban claimed he already had commitments from 260 MPs, a comfortable margin over the necessary 215. Parliament currently has 428 MPs.

The emergence of a Democrat-led government would deal a big blow to ex-prime minister Thaksin's comeback ambitions. His Pheu Thai Party, a reincarnation of the defunct People Power, looks more fragile than previously. The prospect of Pheu Thai serving in opposition will undermine Thaksin's influence in Parliament, the police and the bureaucracy, which has helped prop up his power.

Sanan Kachornprasart, a leader of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, said the four parties had resolved to stick together and, if they faced problems, would reach a decision together. They had vowed not to steal MPs from each other, he said.

Asked whether Abhisit could not be voted in as PM because he did not pass military conscription, Sanan said if the Democrat had committed any offence he would not have been hired to teach at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy - or given a military rank.

Leading Democrats, including secretary-general Suthep, and core members of the 'Friends of Newin' faction turned out to witness Abhisit and Newin seal their political deal.

Seen smiling at the event was former Thai Rak Thai executive Anuthin Chanweerakul, son of caretaker Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul. This quelled fears Chaovarat might dissolve the House in order to prevent an Abhisit-led government.

Newin said he had based his shift on four things: hope the Democrats can lift the country out of turmoil, the need to urgently address the plight of the poor, rewrite the charter and uphold the law.

"I want to ensure every Democrat that nothing can make me waver in my stand on the vote for prime minister," he said in reference to intense lobbying efforts for the coalition led by the Pheu Thai Party.

It was no time for games that could fuel further political uncertainty, he noted.