Former Thai leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expects to play a kingmaker¡¯s role in any coalition that seeks to rule the Southeast Asian nation after next month¡¯s election, pitching an agenda of ¡°clean politics¡± to tackle systemic corruption and dismantle cyber scam operations.
Abhisit¡¯s Democrat Party ¡ª Thailand¡¯s oldest political group ¡ª is projected to emerge as the fourth-largest in the Feb. 8 vote, making it a formidable player in the formation of any government. No single party is set to win an outright majority in the 500-member House of Representatives, opinion polls show, giving midsize parties like the Democrat a say in who becomes the next prime minister.
Abhisit, prime minister during a turbulent period of 2008 to 2011, said in an interview that he¡¯d offer any of the top three parties the difference between a stable government that can revive Thailand¡¯s moribund economy, and the status quo in Thai politics ¡ª where two leaders were ousted over charges of ethical violations in little over a year.
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