Low-key debate
December 21, 2007
FROM LEFT Puea Pandin leader Suvit Khunkitti, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana deputy chief Kasemsant Weerakun, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, People Power party economic chief Minkwan Sangsuwan, Chart Thai's economic team leader Suchart Jaovisit join a politcal debate held yesterday at the Centara Grand hotel in the CentralWorld shopping complex.
Sitting here in my home in the United States, I didn't get to see last night's debate, but from the summary below, it doesn't sound like it was particularly exciting. I suspect one big reason was that only two party leaders were present. Had the others been there, particularly Samak Sundaravej of the People Power Party PPP), you might have seen some real verbal fireworks.
The debate did, however, provide some "news" from Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Read to find out who his preferred coalition partner would be. He also made known his party stance towards joining a government with the PPP.
low-key – (of an event) quiet; without a great show of excitement เงียบเชียบ
coalition – a government consisting of two or more political parties working together (พรรค) ร่วมรัฐบาล รัฐบาลที่จัดตั้งจากการรวมพรรคการเมืองหลายพรรคเข้าด้วยกัน
stance – position; a publicly-stated opinion; a way of thinking about something ความเห็น
Abhisit reaffirms alliance with Chart Thai
MANOP THIP-OSODDemocrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed his political alliance with Banharn Silpa-archa yesterday by announcing his party’s intention to team up with Chart Thai to form the next government after the election.
He made the announcement during a debate among key politicians from five political parties three days before voters go to the polls amid speculation that Chart Thai is being courted again by the People Power party (PPP).
The debate was organised by the Bangkok Post and its partners, including Post Today, Channel 11, the National Institute of Development Administration, Business Radio, and King Prajadhipok’s Institute and TITV.
The speakers were posed various questions, one of them focusing on the make-up of the next government.
‘‘I won’t beat around the bush. The first party I’ll phone will be Chart Thai because we have stuck together through thick and thin,’’ Mr Abhisit said, drawing a cheer from Chart Thai supporters in the conference room of the Centara Grand hotel in the CentralWorld shopping complex.
Mr Abhisit’s announcement drew a smile from Suchart Jaovisidha, Chart Thai’s economic guru. The Chart Thai and Democrat parties could get along with each other in terms of their political and economic policies, said the former deputy finance minister under the Thaksin Shinawatra government.
However, his party leader, Mr Banharn, would be the best person to answer the question, he said.
Mr Abhisit also confirmed that the Democrats could not join the PPP because of their different stances. Joining the PPP would make voters confused and they would think his party had no ideology.
Mingkwan Sangsuwan, the PPP economic chief who was asked the question before Mr Abhisit, had also declined to give a direct answer to it.
He said that it was the business of PPP leader Samak Sundaravej and the end-result would also depend on the election outcome.
Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana deputy leader Kasemsant Weerakun said his party would team up with any party that would not give it problems. He challenged the earlier remark of Mr Samak who has vowed to dissolve the Assets Scrutiny Committee and pardon the 111 former Thai Rak Thai party executives whose political rights have been suspended.
reaffirm – to give your support to a person, plan, idea, etc. for a second time กล่าวย้ำ
alliance – a group of political parties, countries, or people who have agreed to work together because of shared interest or aims พันธมิตรทางการเมือง
intention – something that you want and plan to do ความตั้งใจ นโยบาย หรือจุดยืน
amid – in the middle of ท่ามกลาง
speculation – making a guess about something without having enough information to be certain การคาดการณ์
court – to try to please someone because you want them to join you เกี้ยว จีบ ชวน
pose –to ask a question, especially in a formal situation such as a meeting ถูกซักถาม
make-up การจัดตั้ง
beat around the bush – to avoid talking about what is important พูดอ้อมค้อม ตีวัวกระทบคราด
through thick and thin – in good times and bad times ในทุกสถานการณ์
ideology – a set of beliefs or principles อุดมคติ
declined – refused ปฏิเสธ
outcome – result ผลเลือกตั้ง
challenged – questioned whether something is true, right or legal ท้าทาย
vowed – made a serious promise ให้คำมั่นสัญญา
dissolve – ended an organisation ยุบ ยุติ
pardon – to officially forgive someone who has committed a crime or done something wrong and to stop their punishment นิรโทษกรรม อภัยโทษ
suspended – stopped temporarily ระงับไว้ชั่วคราว
Asked to explain why people should vote for his party, Mr Suvit said Puea Pandin would act as a mediator between conflicting parties.
‘‘National problems do not rest with the economy because the Thai economy has good foundations. It’s politics that is still unstable. With continuing conflicts and fights, good policies will be useless,’’ he said.
Mr Kasemsant said Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana would promote reconciliation and the economy. His party would base its actions on national unity and it would spur the economy with immediate measures that would not have a long-term adverse impact.
‘‘Reconciliation and peace will be our basis to find a way out ... We will be both the gas and brake pedals. If the government is slow, we will be the economic accelerator. And we are ready to be the brake, if the government is obsessed with revenge,’’ he said.
Mr Abhisit said the Democrats would promote honest government. He reaffirmed that his party would try to stimulate the economy and honour its other promises within 99 days if it leads the new administration.
‘‘Conflicts in society resulted from outdated politics, politics that see only the interest of oneself and associates in a way that led to a loss of democracy. So I want to see honest politics that prioritise the public interest,’’ he said.
Mr Mingkwan said the PPP would emphasise good governance and boosting the income of the majority of the country’s population.
‘‘Income must be increased while expenses must be reduced. Eighty-five percent of the population must be taken care of,’’ he said.
Mr Suchart said Chart Thai would focus on measures to cope with an upcoming recession that would be a big problem for the next government.
ผูํกมัดตัวเอง
make-up – composition จัดตั้ง ประกอบเป็น
mediator – a person who tries to help work out an agreement between two opposing groups ตัวกลาง ผู้ทำหน้าที่ประสานรอยร้าว
conflicting – disagreeing; opposing ความขัดแย้ง
foundations – base; people, businesses, etc. รากฐาน
reconciliation – finding a way in which two opposing people, groups, systems of beliefs, etc., can exist together ประณีประนอม
spur – to make something happen faster; to encourage เร่ง กระตุ้น
adverse – having a negative or harmful effect ผลเสีย
accelerator – something which increases the rate or speed of something ตัวกระตุ้น
obsessed – unable to stop thinking about something; too interested in or worried about something หมกมุ่น
revenge – harm done to someone as a punishment for harm that they have done to someone else การแก้แค้น การล้างแค้น
stimulate – to spur; to encourage something to grow, develop or become active กระตุ้น
outdated – old-fashioned; out of date ล้าสมัย หมดยุคสมัย
prioritise – to decide what is most important จัดหรือเรียงลำดับความสำคัญ
emphasise – to show or state that something is particularly important and worth giving attention to เน้นย้ำความสำคัญ
boosting – increasing; strengthening เพิ่ม กระตุ้น
cope with – to deal with a difficult situation successfully จัดการ รับมือกับปัญหา
upcoming – happening soon ที่กำลังจะมาถึง
recession – a period when the economy of a country is not successful and conditions for business are bad ภาวะเศรษฐกิจถดถอย