The ruling coalition's second and third biggest partners yesterday disputed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's remark that the next election could be held early next year, expressing doubts whether the country would be ready for polls by then.
The spokesmen of the Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Thai Pattana parties disagreed with Abhisit that the House could be dissolved to pave way for a general election early next year.
Chart Thai Pattana spokesman Watchara Kannikar expressed concern that if voters have to go to the poll when loopholes in election laws are not yet plugged, the same old political problems will continue to haunt the country. He recommended that the PM push for the amendment of the two articles in the Constitution regarding election zoning and Article 190 before dissolving the House.
"The political situation is not yet totally stable. Every one agrees that the country is not ready for a general election in the near future. We should first ensure that reconciliation efforts are achieved to a certain level,'' he said.
He added that the coalition parties would like the prime minister, who is also leader of the Democrat Party, to inform or confer with them before making a decision to dissolve House.
"It is better that we jointly decide if House dissolution is a solution to the political problems,'' he said.
Bhum Jai Thai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut also backed Watchara's stance, saying although the PM had the sole right to dissolve the House, it would be an honour if the PM held joint discussions with the coalition parties.
Chart Thai Pattana chief adviser Banharn Silapa-Archa also made his stand clear that he would like the charter amendment to be completed by August. And if a public referendum is needed, the government must ensure that it stays in power till the work is finished.
He admitted that the government's stability would be adversely affected, if the Democrat Party was dissolved by a court verdict because the government would lose a number of MPs as a result.