A mid-air talk inspired Suthep the PM-Maker

Suthep, or "the government manager" as he calls himself, turned his long-time enemy Newin Chidchob into becoming the most important factor in making Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva prime minister-elect.

Suthep had calculated carefully and planned thoroughly for months.

The votes from MPs in the Friends of Newin group were key to Abhisit's victory over Puea Pandin leader Pracha Promnok by 235: 198 when three MPs abstained. Among the 37 votes more than Pracha's, about 20 were from the Friends of Newin group.

Back in 1995, Newin took a leading role in the no-confidence debate against Democrat Chuan Leekpai's government over irregularities in the state's allocation of land to farmers (Sor Por Kor 4-01 case). Suthep, the then deputy agriculture minister, later resigned.

From that debate, Chuan dissolved the House and Chart Thai Party's Banharn Silapa-Archa became the next prime minister.

Newin received the first ministerial post in his life, as a deputy finance minister.But Suthep, who became the party's secretary general in 2005, said he had never kept the rage against Newin in his mind. He said it was his own fault for carelessness in issuing the law.

Meanwhile, Suthep said, Newin would bring him many advantages besides the votes from Newin's faction. Newin - former Thaksin's close-aide - was among those knowing best about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra- the Democrats' main rival.

And if the red-shirted pro-Thaksin protesters were to demonstrate against the Democrat government, at least half of them would be torn as they were Newin's supporters, Suthep said.

Suthep was confident no one would have suspected his strategy. "Nobody had suspected me before. I travelled around and nobody cared. They thought the Democrats would not

have a chance. They believed we would not make it (to form a government)," he said.

The worst he could do was to be in the opposition.

Suthep, now 59, went to join his daughter's graduation from Oxford University in London a few months ago. Newin's daughter is a friend of his daughter. When he learnt that Newin would be there too, he decided it was time for a talk.

For 11 hours during the flight back to Bangkok, they talked openly, Suthep said.

At that time, Newin was reported to be travelling to see Thaksin in London. Like true professional politicians, they had long waited for a chance to fully contribute to the country, Suthep said of himself and Newin. They agreed to wait for the right time to deliberate a plan.

From Suthep's calculation, MPs from smaller coalition parties alone would not be enough to support the Democrat government.

At least 20 votes from Newin's faction in the People Power Party were needed to push Abhisit into becoming the new prime minister.

Moreover, Suthep, from Surat Thani, and Newin, from Buri Ram, had fought in the political arena long enough to know each other. Newin is radical and had enough power, he said.

To be sure, Suthep double-checked the number of MPs Newin claimed to have in hand. Among them were MPs close to Sorra-at Klinpratoom of the Group of 16, also rivals of Suthep.

The group of 16 included Suchart Tancharoen and Suwit Khunkitti.

"I had to accept, they had connections and many people respected them. And when I had to do such an important job, I needed support," Suthep said.

Suthep held a press conference on December 6. Representatives from the former Chart Thai, former Matchima Tipataya, Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin and the Friends of Newin faction were there.

For those on Newin's side, Suthep said, the reason to switch from Thaksin to the Democrats was for the sake of the country. It was also because of different opinions and distance between the leader and the followers. The new generation of politicians do not want to be dominated.

However, Suthep said he was confident in dealing with Newin.

As a "government manager," Suthep said he would be in charge of handling problems among politicians and let the prime minister do his job without worry.

A source from a coalition party, who asked not to be named, said Suthep can be quick-tempered, not hiding his frustration when talks became complicated and conditions changed.

"Only Suthep could have failed to make the talks successful. Another person with a big role in compromising is Nipon Promphan. When Suthep is like hot water, Niphon is like cold water," the source said.

Another source from a smaller coalition party, who asked not to be named, said Suthep is hard-hitting and talks straight. He also likes to takes risk and dares to go for the big play.

Niphon, a deputy party leader, has had a leading role each time a Democrat government has been formed. Despite his reputation as a people coordinator, he usually kept a low profile as he was not the party's secretary general.