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Answer to invitations to join PPP-led coalition wanted by tomorrow

By Pradit Ruangdit - BKKPost

The People Power party (PPP) has pressed the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties to decide by tomorrow whether they would accept the invitation to join a PPP-led coalition government. Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa yesterday conceded that his party has unofficially agreed to be part of the coalition, but needs to discuss the matter with the Puea Pandin party first.

He brushed aside concerns over the 65 PPP election winners who have yet to receive endorsement from the Election Commission (EC), pending investigations into possible electoral violations.

''Even if the 20 [PPP] candidates are red-carded, there are some 40 candidates left,'' he said.

The disqualification of winning PPP candidates would not do the Democrats any good because the 65 PPP candidates are from the North and Northeast, which are not the Democrats' heartland, he said.

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee was confident yesterday that the EC's rulings would be out in time to open the parliamentary session on Jan 22.

He said three small parties _ Pracharaj, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Matchimathipataya _ stood by their earlier decision to team up with the PPP.

The Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties should make an official announcement shortly, he said.

''The government should command at least 280 seats to stay stable, enough to also effectively implement policies,'' he said.

At first, MPs would be given ministerial posts, he said. But if the coalition does not have a clear majority, the PPP party-list MPs who assume cabinet posts may have to give up MP seats and allow other members with smaller votes on the list to assume their places in the Lower House.

A highly-placed PPP source said the PPP had given the two parties until tomorrow to make up their minds. Otherwise, the PPP would drop its earlier offers and set new conditions on their participation in the government.

''Things must be clear by January 15 at the latest in order to work out details of policies and the allocation of ministerial portfolios,'' the source said.

A Puea Pandin source said the party had unofficially agreed to be part of the government, but the official announcement was postponed from Jan 2 because of the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

PPP leaders had already asked Puea Pandin chief adviser Vatana Asavahame and other leaders to make public the party's decision, but Puea Pandin wanted to first talk with the Chart Thai party.

At the same time, the Chart Thai party did not want to rush its decision during the mourning period. It is also waiting for the EC's decision on the red and yellow cards.

I think this has more to do with the case at court about PPP being an agent of TRT. If yes, it is an illegitimate party. Any party who has something to loose would not announce being in bed with them in that case.

KoratCat Wrote:I think this has more to do with the case at court about PPP being an agent of TRT. If yes, it is an illegitimate party. Any party who has something to loose would not announce being in bed with them in that case.

Nominee or not, nearly 1/2 the people in the country voted PPP. There is more than one nominee at work in Thailand at the moment..

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Matchima to stick to PPP coalition


Although the EC is still investigating fraud complaints against 65 PPP winning candidates and may disqualify some, Matchima Thipataya Party Sunday announced the EC's decision would not affect its decision to join a PPP-led coalition.

"Matchima Thipataya affirms its decision to support PPP to set up a coalition [government]," its deputy leader Banyin Tangphaporn said yesterday.

Banyin said the party would honour its promise to join the coalition, no matter what the EC decides.

He believed Chart Thai and Puea Pandin would eventually be part of a PPP coalition.

The Nation