Pradit Ruangdit, Eakarach Sattaburuth and Manop Thip-Osod
Bringing back Samak Sundaravej as prime minister is proving difficult, as pressure increases inside the ruling People Power party and coaliation allies to find another candidate - such as caretaker premier and deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat.
Mr Somchai, who is also acting education minister, is the brother-in-law of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The twist comes a day after PPP MPs pledged to nominate Mr Samak, the party leader, to again lead the government after the Constitution Court removed him from office for receiving money for hosting two cooking shows on commercial television.
Signs of withdrawal of support appeared at a meeting of about 100 PPP MPs at a Bangkok hotel led by former deputy party leader and former house speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.
He declined to discuss details, saying only that the MPs' pledge to support Mr Samak shortly after the court's verdict did not constitute a party resolution.
Although the meeting praised Mr Samak as a "good and straightforward man" committed to the party, "the country's problem is too big and we cannot make it a personal matter", said Mr Yongyuth, who was to convey what the MPs had discussed to Mr Samak.
"We are discussing how we can help restore his honour and dignity, which have been trampled on," he added.
A source at the meeting said the purpose was to find an "amiable exit" for the sacked prime minister.
Mr Yongyuth is expected to ask Mr Samak to advise the party and to nominate a candidate for prime minister as a goodwill gesture, the source said.
Mr Samak has avoided the press since the court disqualified him.
Mr Samak's nomination for reappointment was opposed by the Isan Pattana faction, which supports Mr Somchai. The group will definitely not support the return of Mr Samak because the country had been damaged in the seven months he was in charge, said Preecha Rengsomboon, PPP MP for Loei.
The choice of Mr Somchai was also supported by PPP members in the faction led by Sudarat Keyuraphan.
But a group of MPs in the North and those close to Newin Chidchob yesterday pledged their support for Mr Samak.
"He is the most suitable for the job. He will return to the job and solve the problems, including amending the constitution," said Suthin Khlangsaeng.
Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpaarcha did not appear fond of the idea of Mr Samak's return.
"I have given them advice, that they should look for a suitable man. The next prime minister should be able to reconcile and be able to compromise," he said after a meeting with PPP core members.
A Chart Thai source said Mr Banharn felt the return of Mr Samak would intensify political discord.
Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong said he has no personal grudges against Mr Samak, but his return would exacerbate the political situation.
"If they bring Mr Samak back, they will get him killed and the country killed. The prime minister can be anyone [except Mr Samak] to avoid chaos."
Mr Sanoh threatened to skip the House meeting tomorrow to select the new prime minister if the PPP nominates Mr Samak.
Suradej Yasawat, a Puea Pandin listMP, said the party would support the PPP in forming a government but the proposed nomination of Mr Samak posed a worry.
The search for a new prime minister by the coalition parties came as the Democrat party floated the idea of a unified administration comprising parties from the government and opposition benches as a possible way out of the political conflict.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed the proposed national government was not about power sharing among coalition parties.
"We need to form a powerful government that can make everybody talk and take a step back without compromising principles to get the country out of its current state," he said.
Asked if he was ready to lead the national government, Mr Abhisit said: "If the House of Representatives agrees, I am ready."
But the coalition parties remained determined to stick together.
"There is no switching of allegiance," said Mr Yongyuth.
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Bringing back Samak Sundaravej as prime minister is proving difficult, as pressure increases inside the ruling People Power party and coaliation allies to find another candidate - such as caretaker premier and deputy PPP leader Somchai Wongsawat.
Mr Somchai, who is also acting education minister, is the brother-in-law of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The twist comes a day after PPP MPs pledged to nominate Mr Samak, the party leader, to again lead the government after the Constitution Court removed him from office for receiving money for hosting two cooking shows on commercial television.
Signs of withdrawal of support appeared at a meeting of about 100 PPP MPs at a Bangkok hotel led by former deputy party leader and former house speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.
He declined to discuss details, saying only that the MPs' pledge to support Mr Samak shortly after the court's verdict did not constitute a party resolution.
Although the meeting praised Mr Samak as a "good and straightforward man" committed to the party, "the country's problem is too big and we cannot make it a personal matter", said Mr Yongyuth, who was to convey what the MPs had discussed to Mr Samak.
"We are discussing how we can help restore his honour and dignity, which have been trampled on," he added.
A source at the meeting said the purpose was to find an "amiable exit" for the sacked prime minister.
Mr Yongyuth is expected to ask Mr Samak to advise the party and to nominate a candidate for prime minister as a goodwill gesture, the source said.
Mr Samak has avoided the press since the court disqualified him.
Mr Samak's nomination for reappointment was opposed by the Isan Pattana faction, which supports Mr Somchai. The group will definitely not support the return of Mr Samak because the country had been damaged in the seven months he was in charge, said Preecha Rengsomboon, PPP MP for Loei.
The choice of Mr Somchai was also supported by PPP members in the faction led by Sudarat Keyuraphan.
But a group of MPs in the North and those close to Newin Chidchob yesterday pledged their support for Mr Samak.
"He is the most suitable for the job. He will return to the job and solve the problems, including amending the constitution," said Suthin Khlangsaeng.
Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpaarcha did not appear fond of the idea of Mr Samak's return.
"I have given them advice, that they should look for a suitable man. The next prime minister should be able to reconcile and be able to compromise," he said after a meeting with PPP core members.
A Chart Thai source said Mr Banharn felt the return of Mr Samak would intensify political discord.
Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong said he has no personal grudges against Mr Samak, but his return would exacerbate the political situation.
"If they bring Mr Samak back, they will get him killed and the country killed. The prime minister can be anyone [except Mr Samak] to avoid chaos."
Mr Sanoh threatened to skip the House meeting tomorrow to select the new prime minister if the PPP nominates Mr Samak.
Suradej Yasawat, a Puea Pandin listMP, said the party would support the PPP in forming a government but the proposed nomination of Mr Samak posed a worry.
The search for a new prime minister by the coalition parties came as the Democrat party floated the idea of a unified administration comprising parties from the government and opposition benches as a possible way out of the political conflict.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed the proposed national government was not about power sharing among coalition parties.
"We need to form a powerful government that can make everybody talk and take a step back without compromising principles to get the country out of its current state," he said.
Asked if he was ready to lead the national government, Mr Abhisit said: "If the House of Representatives agrees, I am ready."
But the coalition parties remained determined to stick together.
"There is no switching of allegiance," said Mr Yongyuth.
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