Suwat Liptapanlop, a faction leader within the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, yesterday voiced optimism the government would complete its term and dismissed a doomsday scenario regarding a coalition break-up.
"The debate on charter amendments is not an issue to break up the coalition alliance despite differences among the partners," he said.
Suwat said he did not expect the charter rewrite to affect political stability.
"Charter rewriting is not a matter of life and death for the country, and the debate should not be allowed to spiral out of control," he said, deeming it unjustified to push for constitutional amendments at the risk of widening the political divide.
The coalition partners would not stake the fate of their alliance on the success or failure of the charter rewrite, he said.
To allay concern about political jitters triggered by the charter amendments, the prime minister has already assigned Social Action Party leader Suwit Khunkitti to mediate among coalition partners to form a common ground on the matter, he said.
Suwat was speaking at the sidelines while welcoming well-wishers to his birthday party.
Marking the occasion, he said he had three wishes: the country at peace, economic recovery and the government completing its remaining two years.
Suwat said he was optimistic the government was on track to revitalise the economy. The key to the government's survival has nothing to do with political volatility, but rather its ability to bring about economic recovery.
Commenting on the looming verdict on the Bt76 billion in impounded assets of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he said the parties concerned should work to thwart any eruption of violence.
Meanwhile, relations between the two junior coalition parties and the ruling Democrat Party do not seem to be going well. Chart Thai Pattana Party chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart, who is also a deputy prime minister and leader of the Bhum Jai Thai Party, arrived to greet Suwat on the occasion of his birthday but did not wait to meet and have lunch with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Abhisit, who arrived at Suwat's house later, dismissed the fact that leaders of the two parties were not there to meet him, reasoning that a meeting of all coalition party leaders would be held later.
He said Social Action Party leader Suwit Khunkitti, who is also the natural-resources and environment minister, would set a meeting day.
Asked to comment on the possibility of coalition parties defecting and teaming up with the Pheu Thai Party and pushing for Sanan to become prime minister, Abhisit said: "I have no idea. I do not believe it."
