EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

We'll join any party that helps unite the country : Sanan

By Jintana Panyaarvudh,

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

Veteran politician warns the country will come to an end if different colours protest after July 3 election

Every good politician knows that in order to be successful, you should not commit to any particular side until the final results of the election come out. And like every veteran politician, Sanan Kachorn-prasart, 76, remains non-committal as to whether his Chart Thai Pattana Party will join forces with the Democrats or Pheu Thai when it's time to form the next government.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation, Sanan said his party was ready to join any party, provided the country could be reconciled.

Sanan is being seen as the third contender for the premier's post in case there is a political deadlock after the July 3 ballot. Though the politician has not said anything openly, some people say that he is still hoping to become an "accidental prime minister".

"It will be difficult for Pheu Thai to form the next government by itself even if it wins the most MP seats [in the upcoming election]," Sanan predicted.

He said several factors would govern as to whether former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sister Yingluck becomes the next premier. The two key factors, he said, were that Thaksin had to protect himself from accusations of being disloyal to the monarchy and he had to keep red-shirt leaders, who had anti-monarchist sentiments, out of the new Cabinet if Pheu Thai does become the core party in the next government.

About 22 red-shirt leaders, led by Jatuporn Promphan - who is in prison for terrorism and is facing lese majeste charges - are Pheu Thai candidates in the party-list system. Thaksin is said to have included them in the list in order to reward them for their role in last year's prolonged red-shirt protest.

"They [Pheu Thai] will not be able to form a government if no other parties support them," Sanan warned. If that were to happen, then smaller parties would have more of a bargaining power, not just in terms of ministerial posts but also in terms of the head of the government.

Still, Sanan believes that Thaksin is experienced enough as a politician to help his party pull through it. He said that the party that wins the most MP seats should be given the chance to form the government first, but if they fail, the chance should be given to the runners-up.

Chart Thai Pattana will play a vital role in the country's political alignment once the voting results come out. Neither Pheu Thai nor Democrat Party is expected to win enough seats to form a single-party government, but Sanan refuses to say which party he would help set up the next government, saying the decision would only be made after the poll results come out.

"I am quite relaxed and am not thinking about anything other than pushing for reconciliation. In the end, I will need to justify my party's decision [about who it will join]," he said.

Thaksin's main goal at the moment is returning home without having to face a jail term. However, Sanan refused to elaborate on the issue, and only said: "We have to respect the rule of law."

When campaigning for votes, Sanan is always dressed in pink - right down to his shoes - which he says is his party's colour and represents its motto of "reconciliation".

"We have to heal the pain, forget the past and start anew," he said, adding that reconciliation was the only way to end the conflicts. "If people in 'different coloured shirts' start protests after the election, the country will come to an end."

Chart Thai Pattana will announce its plan for reconciliation on June 21.

-- The Nation 2011-06-03

Sanan said his party was ready to join any party, provided the country could be reconciled.

Reconciliation is unlikely to happen whoever manages to form government, so it looks like CTP won't be joining any party.

Glad to see that he is standing on such a strong political platform. I will go whichever way I fancy, so vote for me.

In fact, political logic would dictate that by voting for him, you are dividing the political system more, thus making it harder for the country to get a clear political reconciliation. He is making it harder for the system to get united and reconciled. So better not to vote for him.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Edited June 3, 201115 yr by Thai at Heart

We'll join any party that helps unite the country/pays us the most: Sanan

Part quote from Sanan:

"Every good politician knows that in order to be successful, you should not commit to any particular side until the final results of the election come out".

Once again sanan shows how scaly he is. No values, no manifaesto, just wait until it's obvious which feeding trough to align yourself to.

Exactly what Thaialnd needs to be rid of. While we still have these no morals / no added value dinosaurs how can Thailand move forward?

I thought Sanan always wears pink? He has a blue shirt on in this interview..

We'll join any party that helps unite the country/pays us the most: Sanan

Veteran politician warns the country will come to an end if different colours protest after July 3 election

I hope he'll still have an erection after July 3 election.............:jap:

No doubt, the mans thinking today, is the same as yesterday and the decade before. With few exceptions , no political group is really publicizing what they have done for the Thai people in the past, what they propose, and how they have/or will be successful, in their endeavor.

"It's only a question of the price..." what ever, who ever, when ever....

Part quote from Sanan:

"Every good politician knows that in order to be successful, you should not commit to any particular side until the final results of the election come out".

Once again sanan shows how scaly he is. No values, no manifaesto, just wait until it's obvious which feeding trough to align yourself to.

Exactly what Thaialnd needs to be rid of. While we still have these no morals / no added value dinosaurs how can Thailand move forward?

Thanks to them Abhisit became PM.

Part quote from Sanan:

"Every good politician knows that in order to be successful, you should not commit to any particular side until the final results of the election come out".

Once again sanan shows how scaly he is. No values, no manifaesto, just wait until it's obvious which feeding trough to align yourself to.

Exactly what Thaialnd needs to be rid of. While we still have these no morals / no added value dinosaurs how can Thailand move forward?

Thanks to them Abhisit became PM.

yes i agree with you Samurai , thank you to them, Thailand owes them a huge debt of gratitude for bringing such a brilliant statesman as Abhisit to the forefront of Thai politics.

Edited June 3, 201115 yr by timekeeper

Part quote from Sanan:

"Every good politician knows that in order to be successful, you should not commit to any particular side until the final results of the election come out".

Once again sanan shows how scaly he is. No values, no manifaesto, just wait until it's obvious which feeding trough to align yourself to.

Exactly what Thaialnd needs to be rid of. While we still have these no morals / no added value dinosaurs how can Thailand move forward?

Thanks to them Abhisit became PM.

So its obviously a Big thanks to them..... thank you...

Hey!... here's a great group of politicing intellectuals who are always looking for new members. I think they clearly show their hyper-intellectual approach and sophisticated methods are absolutely the way to win hearts, global respect and run a country struggling to align itself with the modern world. Who needs an Oxford educated academic when all you simply need is troglodyte "Mob Rule" government led by a lying, stealing, power hungry, seething with hatred, mad man who'll stop at nothing to have his way!

Here's a video reminder for your enjoyment of where he's brought his blind followers!

Hey!... here's a great group of politicing intellectuals who are always looking for new members. I think they clearly show their hyper-intellectual approach and sophisticated methods are absolutely the way to win hearts, global respect and run a country struggling to align itself with the modern world. Who needs an Oxford educated academic when all you simply need is troglodyte "Mob Rule" government led by a lying, stealing, power hungry, seething with hatred, mad man who'll stop at nothing to have his way!

Here's a video reminder for your enjoyment of where he's brought his blind followers!

Thanks for the reminder! I hope the people can see how ridiculous this whole mess is.

Part quote from Sanan:

"Every good politician knows that in order to be successful, you should not commit to any particular side until the final results of the election come out".

Once again sanan shows how scaly he is. No values, no manifaesto, just wait until it's obvious which feeding trough to align yourself to.

Exactly what Thaialnd needs to be rid of. While we still have these no morals / no added value dinosaurs how can Thailand move forward?

Thanks to them Abhisit became PM.

We owe them then, as Abhisit has turned out to be a fine leader of his people - serving his country so admirably under such difficult conditions!!!!

We owe them then, as Abhisit has turned out to be a fine leader of his people - serving his country so admirably under such difficult conditions!!!!

Agree 100% and it will truly be Thailand's loss if reds get their way. Sadly Abhisit if he is to continue will almost certainly have to get support of a number of totally corrupt and self seeking old party leaders who most of us would not want to be seen dead with. But thats lessor of 2 evils If reds get their way welcome to Zimbabwie and stupid supporters of Mr Taksin will to late realise what they have done. We will see but ever since that evil meglomaniac came on scene Mr Takson I mean I for first time in 15 years of living here feared for future of Thailand. Corruption is one thing but he tried to get 100% control of everything same as Gaddafi Mugabwie Hitler Stalin etc

In the thread about Newin I was saying last night that he might be right --- we may well see a parliament with the Dems controlling the coalition, but a CTP CPPP PM ....

It has potential to be a way out.

Sanan did throw down the gauntlet to PTP in the article above -- basically saying "no cabinet seats" for the Reds running on the PTP party-list.

Do I like Sanan? No more than I like any of the regional political machines and their leaders ..... but he could be an answer to a huge issue.

Agree 100% and it will truly be Thailand's loss if reds get their way. Sadly Abhisit if he is to continue will almost certainly have to get support of a number of totally corrupt and self seeking old party leaders who most of us would not want to be seen dead with. But thats lessor of 2 evils If reds get their way welcome to Zimbabwie and stupid supporters of Mr Taksin will to late realise what they have done. We will see but ever since that evil meglomaniac came on scene Mr Takson I mean I for first time in 15 years of living here feared for future of Thailand. Corruption is one thing but he tried to get 100% control of everything same as Gaddafi Mugabwie Hitler Stalin etc

Whatever you're on, I don't want any of it.

Agree 100% and it will truly be Thailand's loss if reds get their way. Sadly Abhisit if he is to continue will almost certainly have to get support of a number of totally corrupt and self seeking old party leaders who most of us would not want to be seen dead with. But thats lessor of 2 evils If reds get their way welcome to Zimbabwie and stupid supporters of Mr Taksin will to late realise what they have done. We will see but ever since that evil meglomaniac came on scene Mr Takson I mean I for first time in 15 years of living here feared for future of Thailand. Corruption is one thing but he tried to get 100% control of everything same as Gaddafi Mugabwie Hitler Stalin etc

Whatever you're on, I don't want any of it.

His sentiments are spot on - you have to admit!! Well I think so anyway