Democrats to go it alone

[Faustian]

Understandable, but unless they get someone else to support them, then effective governance is over...and the inevitable election looms....and I suspect we will see a repeat of previous results and the merry-go-round will continue. In other words, there's no end in sight to the paralysis.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/19/politics/politics_30105558.php

ABHISIT ADMINISTRATION

 

Democrats consider going it alone

 

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Published on June 19, 2009

 

 

Coalition partners face ejection over unreasonable bargaining demands

 

 

Leaders of the ruling Democrat Party are thinking seriously about remaining as a slim majority or even a minority government as they prepare to oust some coalition allies, says a party source.

 

The leaders are reportedly fed up with political bargaining demands from coalition partners, as well as the perception of the government as corruption-prone, which is directly affecting the Democrats.

 

Democrat chief advisers Chuan Leekpai, Banyat Bantadtan, Suthas Ngernmuen, and even Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva are reportedly upset with government manager Suthep Thaugsuban, who is deputy prime minister and party secretary-general.

 

"The leaders disagree with all that Suthep has done. He gives coalition allies too many concessions," the source said.

 

Suthep has been very close to banned politician Newin Chidchob ever since they joined hands to form the Democrat-led government.

 

As it became apparent the government might have been involved in corruption - and the allocation of "benefits" from the national budget among coalition partners was seen as a shared interest - the ruling party could not stand still.

 

The source said it was likely Abhisit would opt to stay as a slim-majority or even minority government by kicking out some more demanding partners among the allies. Newin's Bhum Jai Thai Party and Wannarat Charnnukul's Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party are the main targets.

 

Bhum Jai Thai clashed with the Democrats over the NGV bus leasing and the selling and mortgaging crops schemes. The ruling party reportedly also wants to take control of the Energy Ministry, now under Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana. The Puea Pandin Party may be another target if it asks for more budget allocation for its Industry Ministry.

 

However, a slim majority could not survive for long - only until the new Parliament opens in August. The next session will allow opposition parties to file censure motions, and the Democrats will need to seek more MPs to replace old allies if any motion or important bills are to be considered in Parliament.

 

One political observer said the Democrats might leak news of possible expulsions, in order to threaten coalition partners to settle down and not be too demanding.

 

Meanwhile, another source from the Pheu Thai Party admitted the Democrats had contacted some factions in Pheu Thai and asked them to be the government's "spare part" in case the ruling party dumped some coalition partners.

 

One group includes about 30 MPs from the Northeast, Lower North and Central regions. They will not commit to join Newin's party. The group met ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra recently and were told by their leader he would continue to fight on, but the MPs feel uncertain about their future. So now they have two choices: stick with their present leader or shift support to the government. They will wait and study the situation before deciding.

 

The Democrats have promised to allocate some of the national budget to Pheu Thai MPs in exchange for their support for the government.

 

"If we really join the government, we are still Pheu Thai MPs but will vote for the government. By law, we cannot simply move to another party without court intervention," the source said.

 

A Puea Pandin faction with nine MPs led by former party leader Pracha Promnok was also reportedly contacted by the ruling party with the same conditions offered to Pheu Thai.The perfect time for Abhisit to reshuffle his Cabinet would be when the results of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) indictment over the Preah Vihear issue comes out at the end of next month.

 

The NACC conducted an investigation into 28 members of the former prime minister Samak Sundaravej's Cabinet for their part in endorsing a joint Thai-Cambodian communique.

 

Of the present ministers, five were involved in that case: Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pataraprasit, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, Information and Communications Technology Minister Ranongruk Suwanchawee, and Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul.

 

[Mentors]

since the Blue Shirt attacks against the Red protestors in Pattaya it's rather clear, that Suthep and Newin could doing their own thing.