Samak steps aside after embarrassing no-vote

Embarrassed at being rejected by members of his own party, Samak Sundaravej has given up hope of being reinstated as prime minister and may step away from leading the People Power party (PPP). Mr Samak's decision was revealed yesterday by Theerapol Nopparampa, his close aide, after he spent about 50 minutes meeting Mr Samak at his home.

Mr Samak asked him to tell PPP members that he has tried his best to protect democracy. He would now end his effort and let the party decide on its own future.

Mr Samak's remarks have led to speculation that he will quit as PPP leader as well.

PPP registration officer Samarn Lertwongrat said he had not been informed about Mr Samak's resignation as party leader.

Mr Samarn said any such move would only take effect when the besieged former prime minister's resignation letter reached the party's secretary-general or himself.

PPP MPs held a meeting yesterday after the vote for a new prime minister in the House was postponed to next Wednesday due to a lack of a quorum.

Coalition parties and about 70 PPP MPs who opposed Mr Samak's nomination refused to attend the House for the vote.

Quiet in the House as coalition partners Chart Thai, Puea Pandin, Pracharaj, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Matchimathipathaya members stay away in opposition to the attempt to nominate Samak Sundaravej as prime minister again. — Photos by PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH

The MPs asked deputy PPP leaders Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat and secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee to convince Mr Samak to withdraw his nomination, though they said he should have the right to nominate someone for the job.

Sompong Amornwiwat, a key PPP contender for post, said the coalition parties would announce in the next two days the formation of the new alliance.

On Monday, the PPP will meet to select a member to stand for prime minister.

Mr Sompong said the party will tell coalition partners the name of its contender on Tuesday before voting takes place in the House on Wednesday.

According to PPP sources, deputy PPP leaders, Mr Somchai or Mr Sompong, are likely to be nominated.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob postponed the vote after a group of PPP MPs and members of the other five coalition partners opted not to attend the House meeting to elect the new prime minister. The next meeting of the House was scheduled for Wednesday.

Wichian Udomsak, an Amnat Charoen MP and member of the Friends of Newin Chidchob group that pushed for the reinstatement of Mr Samak, said in his opinion parliament might be dissolved if the House cannot elect a new prime minister next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, three Chart Thai MPs, Pathum Thani MP Ekkapot Panyaem, Ang Thong MP Paradorn Prissananantakul, and Si Sa Ket MP Siripong Angkhasakulkiat explained Chart Thai's decision not to attend the House meeting yesterday.

They said it was due to disagreement within the PPP on the nomination of Mr Samak.

They agreed to boycott the meeting to ensure it was postponed.

A Chart Thai source said party leader Banharn Silpa-archa on Thursday night received calls from PPP groups that supported and opposed Mr Samak's nomination.

Mr Siripong said Chart Thai was not playing political games with the PPP as alleged by PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang, adding that: ''We want to let the major party finalise its nomination first.''

Mr Siripong said the PPP should take into account people's opinions on its nomination of prime minister, while the next prime minister should be someone capable of solving the country's crisis.

Somsak Prissananantakul, a deputy Chart Thai leader, said postponing the vote would allow all parties more time to think about the country's direction.

Another deputy Chart Thai leader, Kanchana Silpa-archa, daughter of party leader Banharn, said the six coalition parties remain united.

Yesterday morning, about 1,000 pro-government demonstrators led by the Khon Rak Udon group (Love Udon People) turned up in front of parliament to support the reinstatement of Mr Samak.

The demonstrators were from Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Ratchaburi and Samut Prakan provinces.

Clad in red tops, they expressed their anger when they heard about the lack of quorum in the House and that voting was postponed.

The group's leader, going under the alias Pey Klong Toey, vowed to list the names of PPP MPs who were absent from the House, and proposed the party expel them. They were all elected because of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's influence, not because of their own talent, he said.

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