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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Thailand's Democrat Party ready to regain power
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-14 20:14

BANGKOK, Thailand -- The battleground of Thai politics was set to shift from the streets to Parliament, as lawmakers prepared to vote Monday on a new prime minister.

Leader of the Democrat Party Abhisit Vejjajiva smiles as he talks to reporters at the party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. Democrat Party called for an emergency parliamentary session to prove its majority, a key step to forming the next government and ending months of political paralysis. [Agencies]

The Democrat Party, which has not been in power for eight years, is confident it has the support of enough lawmakers to elect its Oxford-educated leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, as the country's new prime minister.

But parties loyal to the legacy of disgraced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also claim to have enough votes to name their candidate, former national Police Chief Pracha Promnok, to the top spot.

Thaksin's allies have led a coalition government since a December 2007 general election. But the ruling People's Power Party and two coalition partners were forced to dissolve earlier this month when a court found them guilty of fraud in that election. The remnants of the PPP regrouped as the Phuea Thai Party, which will also be seeking a majority in Monday's session.

The expected lower house vote comes after months of instability caused by anti-government demonstrations that culminated late last month with a weeklong takeover of Bangkok's two airports.

The protest movement seeks to purge politics of the influence of Thaksin, who was ousted by a 2006 coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power, and has threatened new but unspecified activities if Parliament elects a leader with links to him.

Thaksin now lives in exile, having fled Thailand ahead of an October conviction on a conflict of interest charge.

But he continues to play an active role in politics, and Saturday night Thaksin gave a prerecorded video speech to a rally of more than 40,000 of his supporters who gathered at a stadium in central Bangkok.

Thaksin decried inappropriate interference in the political process, a reference to the army's alleged intervention in favor of the Democrats, and denounced lawmakers who had been loyal to him but switched their allegiances. The army traditionally wields a great deal of influence in Thai politics.

The speech had been ballyhooed in advance as a last-ditch effort to rally support ahead of Monday's parliamentary session but it had no evident effect on the political balance.

Thaksin, a former telecommunications magnate, is still supported by many in Thailand's impoverished countryside because of his populist policies during his six years in power.

Democrat leader Abhisit told reporters Sunday that it was his party's "responsibility to offer another choice for the country when the former government has failed." He said his party would focus on national harmony and economic issues.

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