Somsak, politician and cockfighting fan

"I never get angry at anyone. That is no use to me," he said.

The most prosperous time in Somsak's career was when Thaksin Shinawatra was prime minister (2001-2006), when he had four different ministerial roles. Somsak's group defected from the Pheu Thai Party to join the Democrat-led government.

Asked whether he was upset with criticism about defecting, he said: "I am happy that we were able to save democracy without having to go for a new election."

As a former agriculture minister and a former labour minister, Somsak also claimed he understood and knew the hearts of farmers and labourers.

Moreover, he has shown a human touch. When he heard he had been removed from the agriculture minister's post, he cried.

If the next qualification for a good politician is to come up with new ideas, again, Somsak does that regularly.

Somsak was the man behind the controversial One Million Cows scheme during the Thai Rak Thai government.

"If an idea is rejected, I can always think of new ones. Especially now, I have even more time to think," Somsak said.

He also has another key asset: an understanding and devoted wife.

Sadly, however, his wife Anongwan's voting rights were also revoked when the Matchima Thipataya Party she led was dissolved.

Besides, Somsak knows when and how to ask for something.

While Pheu Thai MPs tried to push for an amnesty law to lift the bans imposed on politicians after the military coup in 2006, Somsak disagreed.

"Don't be too greedy," he said. "If you ask for 20, they [the government MPs] would be so mean if they refuse. But if you ask for 100, they have legitimate reasons to refuse."

His proposal: return voting rights to executives of parties not involved in electoral fraud.

"If you ask for a lifting of penalties for crimes, they will never say yes," he explained.

It was unclear if he meant his former leader Thaksin, who has been sentenced two years in jail in connection with the Ratchadaphisek land scandal, does not deserve forgiveness.

But if his proposal works, Somsak could benefit.

For the moment, he is waiting for his five-year ban from politics to end, so he can make a comeback.

In the meantime, he enjoys promoting his favourite sports, fighting cocks and bird competition.

His latest idea: rules to ensure cocks wear protective gear and fight only for three rounds each time so that they aren't killed during fights.

If the qualifications mentioned above are all a person needs to be a good politician, you can bet Somsak Thepsuthin will be back in the fray not far down the track.