Thailand's Democrat Party set to govern

THAILAND'S DEMOCRAT Party looks likely to form a government today, with opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva tipped to become the country's third prime minister in four months after the collapse of a government loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The outcome is unlikely to produce any long-lasting solution to Thailand's three-year political crisis, which has seen Bangkok's royal and military elite come up against the wealthy populist Mr Thaksin who enjoys wide support among the rural poor, especially in the north of Thailand.

After several weeks of horse trading since the government was toppled by a court order and then hit by defections, the Democrats were confident they had enough legislators onside to elect the Oxford-educated Mr Abhisit as the country's new premier.

Mr Abhisit told reporters that he was "ready to work immediately" to tackle the kingdom's economic woes, heightened by six months of damaging protests organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a loose alliance of Bangkok's elite and middle classes, from which the Democrats have distanced themselves. His aim was to restore people's confidence in the country "within two or three months".

Mr Thaksin's allies have led a coalition government since a December 2007 general election. But Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin, was sacked by the courts after his People Power Party (PPP) and two coalition partners were found guilty of fraud in that election.

The ruling helped end a blockade of Bangkok's two main airports by the anti-Thaksin PAD which caused chaos for hundreds of thousands of travellers.

Mr Thaksin's allies have regrouped in the newly formed Puea Thai (For Thais) party and insist that they can still form a government when MPs vote in today's session.

Mr Thaksin, who faces corruption charges in Thailand, weighed in from exile to demand an end to army interference in politics and call for national reconciliation.

"At the moment the army is interfering . . . Those people who interfere in forming the government must stop and withdraw," Mr Thaksin said in an address recorded in Bali.

Thousands of pro-Thaksin "red shirts" were expected to gather at parliament to support their candidate for prime minister, former national police chief Pracha Promnok. They will be watched by hundreds of police.

Should Mr Abhisit take over the reins, his government will hold a slim majority at the head of a coalition that even includes renegade PPP representatives. Governing will be difficult with tough choices called for in the face of a recession - the unrest has exacerbated the country's economic problems.

The Democrats claim to have the support of 260 MPs in the 480-seat parliament, whose numbers have been thrown into confusion by the dissolution of the PPP and two other minor parties and the banning of their leaders from politics.