Bhichai urges alliance of major parties

The top four parties, left to right, clockwise: Chartthaipattana, Democrat, Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai.

A former Democrat Party leader's idea for the four main parties to unite in an attempt to stave off military influence in the next general election has received support from the Pheu Thai Party but drawn mixed reactions from the rival Democrats.

On Sunday, ex-Democrat leader Bhichai Rattakul said the only way to fight a possible military-led party in the next poll is for the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana parties to form an alliance.

Before the election, the parties should agree to campaign in an election in a fashion that does not pit themselves against one another while highlighting each individual party's manifesto, he said.

After the election, the party which emerges with the most MPs should nominate a person of its choice to be prime minister with the support of the other parties in parliament, he said.

"If we don't do this, the politicians will definitely lose, big time. They will have to put up with a military-backed government for the duration of the 20-year national strategy," said Mr Bhichai who led the Democrats from 1982 to 1991. An alliance is the only solution to preserving democracy, he added.

Pheu Thai former MP Samart Kaewmeechai immediately sprang to support Mr Bhichai's idea to prevent a non-MP becoming premier after the next general election, expected some time later next year.

If political parties do not band together, they will see one among the candidates they nominate, fail to garner enough votes in parliament to be prime minister, prompting a second round of voting in which a non-MP candidate could enter the race. The Senate would be able to join in the vote in the second round which would likely lead to the non-MP being picked as premier.

However, Mr Samart said the parties must agree in principle that whatever party wins the most MPs will lead the next government.

"If the parties don't start talking and refuse to put aside their differences now and if the first round of voting in parliament collapses with no candidate we nominate filling the prime minister's seat, we will likely have a non-MP prime minister after a second vote. If that's the case, we will have no one else to blame but ourselves," Mr Samart said.

However, Democrat deputy leader Sathit Pitutecha said no one should entertain preconceived ideas or set arrangements for an alliance before people have a chance to vote. "We shouldn't think beyond the limit of the law or constitutional rule," he said.

He added the Democrats might be open to forging an alliance with Pheu Thai if ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra did not continue to influence the party.

Former Democrat MP for Krabi Pichet Panwichartkul welcomed Mr Bhichai's idea, saying it would also be an opportune time for a certain major party, a reference to Pheu Thai, to rebuild following the coup.

Bhumjaithai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said it was up to the Pheu Thai and the Democrats to make an alliance possible as both Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana, being only small parties, would not command as many votes after the next poll.