Abhisit calls for softer approach

The House Speaker and his deputies must be impartial and MPs must do their job so the legislative branch can create an atmosphere of reconciliation in Parliament, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

"The Legislative Branch must do its job according to the Constitution. The House Speaker must not be under outside influence. It must not fear scrutiny and must not be a tool for the administrative branch," he said.

If this happened, appointing members for parliamentary committees would not be as difficult as in the past, he said. The number of panel members should match the number of MPs from each party, he said, adding that problems in the past were due to interference by the government - which feared scrutiny. The Democrat Party will be the only opposition party in Parliament, while the coalition government consists of six parties. The House Speaker and deputies are all from the People Power Party (PPP).

Solving economic problems was more important than the appointment of the prime minister and the Cabinet line-up, Abhisit said.

"Don't wait until the policy declaration day. I think political parties should show the clear direction as they must work on economic problems to some extent. The focus should be on policies to boost confidence," he said.

Abhisit declined to comment on the possibility PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee would be the new finance minister. But he said the prime minister must pick the defence minister. And no matter who the minister was, politicians should not interfere in military and police work.

Commenting on PPP MP Chalerm Yoobamrung's criticism of the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), Abhisit said the PPP should make it clear if they intend to shut down the organisation, which is investigating graft allegations against members of the Thaksin Shinawatra Cabinet.

Abhisit said that while PPP leader Samak Sundaravej threatened during the election campaign to dissolve the AEC, he should give sound reasons for doing so. Otherwise, he should respect it and let the AEC work effectively.

Reacting to Democrat adviser Chuan Leekpai's criticism of the PPP preparing parliamentary meetings before the House Speaker and deputies get royal endorsement, PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said Samak knew what to do and when. However, the party needed to prepare for formation of the government.

"We do not expect only support as it is everyone's right to criticise," he said. "But we are confident problems will not occur during the vote for the prime minister, as it is an open vote."

Yossawadee Hongthong,

Kesinee Jaikawang

The Nation