Samak to meet former TRT Mps Tuesday

People Power Party leader-designate Samak Sundaravej is scheduled to meet Tuesday with former Thai Rak Thai MPs to hold a preliminary discussion about the new banner for the general election.

Samak is slated to announce his decision to come out of retirement and become a proxy leader of a new team for supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Saman Chan Group will also meet today to map out a tentative course should the referendum turn out a success.

Group leader Suwat Liptapanlop is expected to brainstorm on how to break the polarisation between those for and against Thaksin, his supporter Preecha Laohapongchana said yesterday.

"If the general election is mired by two opposing camps, then political animosity will persist and street protests will remain centred on Thaksin's leadership just like the past two years," he said.

He said his group would try to introduce a fresh start, details of which would hinge on the referendum outcome.

Matchima Group leader Somsak Thepsuthin said he had been talking to Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kachornprasart with the hope of charting a future together. He added that if the junta decided to form a party as a front for the military, its chance for success would depend on soliciting a broad base of support.

Ruam Jai Thai Group member Suraporn Danaitangtrakul said he was trying to convince former House speaker Uthai Pimchaichon to come out of retirement and join his team.

"Uthai told me he would not contest the general election, but this was before he was approached to lead the soontobeformed Ruam Jai Thai Party," he said.

He said he remained hopeful about his mission because Uthai had not made an outright rejection of leading the new party.

The Nation