Initial counting completed for Thailand's election, pro-Thaksin party wins

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-24 14:08

"Domestic and international observers were present around the country. We call on all sides to respect the results, and for a fair and transparent process for the adjudication of any disputes or fraud claims," he said.

The initial results put the PPP, seen as a nominee party for Thailand's coup-ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a dozen seats short of a simple majority the party needs to secure at the House to form a single-party government.

Earlier, PPP leader Samak Sundaravej has said the PPP would like to invite other parties to join in a coalition government.

The idea was shrugged off by leader of the Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiva, who said his party is ready to stay as an opposition party if the PPP gets to form a government, rather than join in the coalition.

But if the PPP fails the mission, Abhisit said his party would be ready to take over the lead and form a coalition government.

In Thailand's election system, the party or the coalition of parties winning a majority of seats at the House will be empowered to form a new government, with the winning party or parties electing a prime minister, who must be an elected MP, to lead the cabinet.

Now with the most but not majority seats at the parliament, the PPP has to form a coalition with some smaller parties to secure a stable leadership both at the parliament and the government-to-be.

Now observers have shifted their gaze a little from Samak and Abhisit towards the Chart Thai Party, the third-placed racer in the election, and the fourth Puea Paendin Party.

Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapaarcha announced late Sunday night that his party would ally with the Puea Paendin Party.

With an estimated 75 seats together, the two-party alliance now holds big bargain power as to with which of the top two parties it would join for a coalition, and how big the share it will get from the coalition whatever.

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