PM's optimistic outlook for 2009

Abhisit spent the New Year's eve defending the government's economic emergency package as being comprehensive enough to preduce positive returns in the latter half of the year and benefit the grassroot and threatened Thai labour as much as the rich and big businesses.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep, the Democrat "king maker'', insisted the new coalition government was strong enough to last the distance. But he called for a truce with the Democrats' rivals, saying he was ready to prostrate himself before former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if that would bring peace back to Thailand.

The man who engineered the dramatic political re-alignment that installed Abhisit as prime minister in early December has displayed a deceptively low public profile. Regarded by those in the know as the one holding key to the stability of the coalition government that brings together former arch-enemies, Suthep has been positive regarding the flexibility of the administration.

In an interview with The Nation, he sought to allay fear that instability is the government's weakness. "We have come this far, so I am not worried. If the Samak Sundaravej government can last almost a year, why can't the Democrat-led survive?'' he said.

The optimism was based on pure statistics. The government has 37 votes more than the Opposition. Though some MPs doubling as ministers will not be able to vote for government-sponsored bills, there are still 13 government MPs more than the Opposition in any vote.

"We want to serve as long as we can, although I don't want to boast we want to serve full three-year term. Some critics give us three months but people look down on me every day, even some in my party. They believed I could not form a government, now they thought we could not last. I have no choice but try to convince them,'' he said.

His confidence owes much to "long-time understainding" with fellow veteran politicians like Banharn Silpa-archa, Sor-at Klinprathum, Suwit Khunkitti and Newin Chidchob.

"Though they were old rivals, I hold no grudges against them. We did not fight because of personal issues. We were just doing our jobs. The political fight between Newin and I, for instance, if it happened to others, they may not go to the funeral of one another. But Newin decided to support us. So I believe this is a good sign,'' he said.

The "sacrifice" of significant ministries such as Interior, Transport, Agriculture and Commerce to the allies is not a destabilizing factor, Suthep insisted.

"I have never thought of that as a problem. We are in the government so we work as a team to achieve the same goal,'' he said.

On charges that the Democrat-led government copied the "populist" policies, Suthep said wiping out rivals' legacy would not help the new prime minister's reconcilation plan.

"Why do we have to dismantle their house? If we do that, it shows we do not want to reconcile from the beginning,'' he said.

Suthep argued that the government would continue the populist policies but constructively. For example the village funds will not be allowed to use for consumption but long-term investment, job creation and community development.

He vowed to continue giving olive branch to rivals. Suthep claimed he has been reaching out to different political groups be Pheu Thai Party' faction leaders such as Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chaturon Chaisang.

"I have just made a phone call to Yonyuth. I am ready to talk to all of them because we are not foes that are meant to kill one another. I will meet him after the New Year's Day. I am ready to talk to Thaksin. I am ready to prostrate myself before him. I am not doing this for myself but for the country. I want to ask him directly "Can we have a truce?" Suthep said.