Democrats will wait-and-see

Moreover, said Abhisit, the party will respect the outcome of the Election Commission's investigation into electoral fraud.

Abhisit said regardless who forms the government, the next administration must put the interest of the country at the centre of their policy and should focus on reviving economic and political confidence.

The Democrat leaders said he will not interfere with the Election Commission's

investigation into alleged fraud and played down the summoning of a Democrat Party's candidate in Nakhon Si Thammarat who has been handed a "yellow card" by the EC following allegation of campaign violation.

 Democrat Party secretarygeneral Suthep Thaugsuban said he had not discussed with other parties about government forming. Suthep has been appointed as the Democrats' to deal with other parties.

Suthep admitted to having an informal chat of with Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapaarcha late on the election day's night, but insisted that it was not about the formation of the next government.

Suthep said he was on the phone with Pua Pandin's Pinij Charusombat, discussing the outcome of the election and that Banharn happened to be in the area and so the phone was handed over to the Chart Thai leader.

When asked what was discussed on the phone with the two political heavyweights, Suthep said "the result of the poll", which he find it "surprisingly low" for both Pua Pandin and Chart Thai.

Suthep said Democrat Party is prepared to lead the country if it is given a chance to form the next government.

Suthep said being part of a coalition government will make the Democrats extra careful and less complacent in implementing government's policy.

Suthep said if the Democrats become part of the opposition in the Parliament, one of its objective is to ensure that government officers be treated fairly.

He said 165 seats is a considerably number for an opposition - a sizeable portion in the 480 seat Parliament that can not be dismissed easily by the government.

Suthep downplayed suggestion of any irregularity or involvement in the Council for National Security's meeting with the EC on Wednesday.

The Nation

Kornchanok Raksaseri