Thaksin-linked party claims ‘victory for democracy’ in Thai election polls
12.23.07
BANGKOK- The People Power Party, the political outfit aligned with ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said Sunday’s elections were a victory for democracy, after exit polls gave them a strong lead.
‘This is a victory for people and democracy. It shows that the coup one-and-a-half years ago has not benefited the country or anyone,’ said Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary general of PPP.
An exit poll by Assumption University gave PPP, linked with Thaksin Shinawatra, 202 out of the 480 seats up for grabs, while a poll by Rajabhat University at Suan Dusit gave the party 256 seats.
Thailand’s oldest political outfit, the Democrat Party, came in a strong second, while four small parties each took a handful of seats, the polls said.
‘It will definitely be a coalition government,’ said Surapong, adding that it was ‘normal practice’ for the party with the majority of seats to form a coalition.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was not surprised with the exit polls, which tallied with their forecasts.
‘So now we are in second place, and forming a coalition government is for the one that got the most,’ he told reporters, but later added they were still waiting for the official results.
‘If the PPP won the highest number, so it is their right to form the government, but it depends on the reaction of other parties as well,’ he said.
The military ousted Thaksin in a bloodless coup in September 2006.
They have tried to eradicate Thaksin’s political influence in Thailand, disbanding his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party in May and bringing a slate of corruption charges against the self-made billionaire.
But many of ex-TRT members reformed under the banner of PPP, which is led by former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej.
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