Thread: Thai elections 2011-Thai PM sets stage for tough election

Chuwit wants parties banned

Chuwit wants parties banned

By Khanittha Thapphajorn
The Nation
Published on June 1, 2011

Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuwit Kamolwisit said he was working to get three political parties dissolved for letting banned politicians play an explicit role in politics.

Chuwit said he would file complaints against Chart Thai Pattana, Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Pattana Puea Pandin parties, because the parties' key members are people whose voting rights have been revoked and yet they publicly comment on policies.

"Why are people whose rights have been revoked so eager? They don't even have the right to vote. I will ask the Election Commission to dissolve these parties especially where Banharn Silapa-archa is concerned. What he is doing is not right. He acts as if he is the party leader when he does not have any voting rights. In my opinion, a party with majority votes should form the government and the party leader should be the prime minister. I will push for this if I win the July 3 election," he said.

Chuwit was referring to Banharn's earlier remark that he supported his party's adviser Sanan Kachornprasart as the next premier. Banharn's voting right was revoked for five years in 2008 and his brother took over as leader of Chart Thai Pattana Party, which was formed after the Chart Thai Party was disbanded.

Pheu Thai pledges 'energy' credit cards

Pheu Thai pledges 'energy' credit cards

By The Nation
Published on June 1, 2011

Pheu Thai has promised to issue "energy" credit cards to drivers of taxis, motorcycle taxis and commuter vans if the party is elected to lead the next government.

In light of the positive response to issuing credit cards for farmers, public transport workers should be entitled a roving credit to refuel their vehicles, Pheu Thai campaign strategist Pichai Naripthaphan said yesterday.

The credit limit would equal the average monthly spending on petrol and natural gas, he said.

The party will negotiate with energy suppliers to provide a special discount and cumulative points for each card, he said, explaining that the points could be redeemed for benefits similar to a pension scheme.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuwit Kamolwisit said he was working to get three political parties dissolved for letting banned politicians play an explicit role in politics. Chuwit said he would file complaints against Chart Thai Pattana, Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Pattana Puea Pandin parties, because the parties' key members are people whose voting rights have been revoked and yet they publicly comment on policies.

He has a pretty good point here. And it points to the farcical way in which the banning of politicians took effect. Lots of politicians were banned but some seem to have been more banned than others. Shouldn't the EC have looked on Newin getting flowers and embraces from Abhisit as evidence that he was politically active?

Mind you, the whole banning thing was a complete betrayal of democratic principles in the first place.

just to ref this here :

Thailand's upcoming election will be crucial in shaping its relationship with the United States, which has been uneasy over prolonged strife in its historic ally, a US official said Tuesday.

There is a designated thread here :

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...ml#post1771980 (Thailand : US concerned over polls)

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potephosree admits some electoral frauds such as vote-buying for the 3 July election have really been found

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Police General Wichean stated that vote-buying are reported

wanta buy a horse ?

Bangkok Post : Abhisit hits campaign trail in North today

Abhisit hits campaign trail in North today

Democrats ask Yingluck to join June 23 debate

• Published: 1/06/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Caretaker prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will today hit the campaign trail in the North, the opposition's stronghold.

Sathit Wongnongtoey, a Democrat executive member and acting PM's Office minister, said Mr Abhisit will fly to Chiang Rai this evening and will continue on to Phayao to deliver his first campaign address.

Mr Abhisit will then travel to Wat Nong Nguek in Lamphun's Pa Sang district, where he will stay overnight, Mr Sathit said.

Tomorrow morning, Mr Abhisit will visit Ban Mae Aow Cooperatives, near the temple, and will make known the details of the party's policy to issue community land title deeds, Mr Sathit said.

The Democrat-led coalition government has introduced community title deeds as a key policy for dealing with land disputes, especially for communities in protected forest areas and occupying public land.

Communities which obtain the land title deeds will be allowed to use the land for agricultural purposes only. The use of the land will be overseen by a community committee which will not be allowed to sell the land.

Mr Abhisit will next meet voters in Hot district of Chiang Mai before returning to Bangkok tomorrow afternoon.

Mr Sathit said the Democrats are also targeting a specific group of eligible voters who will benefit from their policies.

The Democrats are meeting labourers at factories to discuss the party's policy to hike minimum wages by 25% in two years and visiting farmers to gather their opinions on the party's income guarantee for farmers.

This approach to campaigning has proven more effective than addressing audiences at campaign rallies, which is one-way communication, Mr Sathit said.

Meanwhile, the Democrat Party has agreed to join a debate to compare its policies with those of other parties, party spokesman Buranat Samuttharak said.

The debate, which will be held on June 23-24, will be hosted by the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation, Channel 11, Channel 9 and Sripatum University.

On June 23, the No.1 list candidate of each party will be given an opportunity to discuss their vision on how they will run the country if they become prime minister.

On June 24, two election staff members of each party will join their top party list candidates in the debate to compare their policies.

Mr Buranat said the invitation has also been sent to Yingluck Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party's No.1 list candidate and the Democrat Party is waiting to see if Ms Yingluck will accept.

The Democrat Party wanted Ms Yingluck to also join the debate to discuss her vision and demonstrate her leadership skills.

Bangkok Post : Selling support is dirty politics

EDITORIAL

• Published: 1/06/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

There is still more than a month to go before the voting, and the distasteful bargaining over cabinet seats already is under way. The Bhumjaithai Party has let it out to the media that the party will support the winner of the July 3 election. If there was the slightest doubt about the motive, deputy leader and caretaker Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum dispelled it immediately. The only goal of Bhumjaithai is to be in the government. It is all about the power and the benefits which come from power. A lot of what is wrong with politics and government is brought out by this cynical attitude.



Bhumjaithai expects to have the third largest number of members of parliament in the coming polls. According to Mr Sohpon, the party leaders and those MPs have no interest in the policies of the next government. What a new administration will do for the country is of little or no concern. The single ambition of Bhumjaithai is to align itself with the incoming government so that MPs can gain cabinet positions, and party leaders can maintain and increase the influence they have built during the past 18 months of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, led by the Democrat Party.

It is a pretty safe prediction that the next government will be led either by the Democrats or the Pheu Thai Party. There are important differences between the two.

A government under the Democrats is likely to be quite different from an administration led by Pheu Thai. Those differences are likely to become much clearer in the next few weeks, but the priorities of the two parties and their leaders already are separate and growing apart.

It is also a given that after the election, the party with the most MPs will attempt to form a government. As in the past, smaller political parties will try to bargain their way into the halls of power.

It is well known that governments, including this Abhisit administration, have had to give up power and more in order to gain a governing majority in parliament. But the public knows that support is never given freely. Rather, it is promised in return for, well, favours. And the bargaining, influence peddling and worse is opaque, behind closed doors. It is the very opposite of accountable democracy.

Bhumjaithai is the creation of Newin Chidchob, the often controversial Buri Ram politician. He and his party colleagues were primarily responsible for the ouster of the then People Power Party in late 2008. They gave support to the Democrats in a deal which still is largely unclear. They received cabinet positions and influence, in return for which they guaranteed the survival of a stable government.

Now Bhumjaithai's leaders say they want more of the same from the next government.

Small coalition parties have always been needed, with a single exception - when Thaksin Shinawatra led the Thai Rak Thai Party to a majority of parliamentary seats. In principle, smaller parties can influence the government to institute certain policies, as often happens in Canada and Europe.

But the Bhumjaithai leadership now says it has no particular interest in policy, only in sharing in the power and presumably the spoils of government.

It would be fitting if the next government is able to take power without the presence of such an uncaring party. Major party leaders Mr Abhisit and Yingluck Shinawatra should be asked their opinion of Bhumjaithai. The derisive approach of Mr Sohpon and Mr Newin to the responsibilities of government is troubling.

My Govt would boost confidence: Yingluck

ELECTION
My Govt would boost confidence: Yingluck

By The Nation
Published on June 1, 2011



To reinvigorate the economy, prime-ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra has set her sights on three main things - restoring confidence to boost consumption, strengthening the farm sector, and enhancing Thailand's potential as a tourist destination.

In an interview with Krungthep Turakij, Yingluck, No 1 on Pheu Thai's party list, said confidence was the key in economic policies. Low confidence in the country's direction leads to low investment and low consumption, though the financial system is flooded by liquidity and commercial banks' readiness to extend loans.

Without confidence, any policies, no matter how well they are designed, will be impractical, she said. In this regard, she believes that her experience from the business world will help her achieve her goals, with help from economic guru Olarn Chaipravat and marketing man Mingkwan Sangsuwan.

"Confidence is the most important thing. If the business sector and the general public are confident, with the government's assistance, investment and consumption will rise given huge savings," she said.

In light of this, a Pheu Thai-led government would cut the corporate income-tax rate from 30 per cent currently to 23 per cent in the first year and to 20 per cent in the second year.

This drives us to announce the policy to cut the corporate tax income rate (from 30 per cent) to 23 per cent in the first year and 20 per cent in the second year," she said in the interview.

As the Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee will meet today on the policy rate, Yingluck said interest rates were likely to move in line with inflation. She noted that the current policy rate was not too high, compared with the past. Moreover, once people's incomes rise, they will not mind higher interest rates.

"I was in the property-development industry. I know that though interest rates are a factor influencing home-buyers, they are not the principal factor. More influence will come from their expectation of future income," she said.

On farmers' well-being, she said her government's policies would be comprehensive, ranging from strengthening their income to enhancing the food-processing industry's competitiveness.

Believing that income distribution remains a flaw as reflected by low labour wages despite the overall improvement in the economy, she said this led to huge problems when the poor had to endure higher good prices. This in turn led to higher household debts.

She said a boost to incomes was a must. This would be done through government investment in mega-projects, which should lead to higher employment.

Pheu Thai would also launch a debt moratorium for farmers and the poor whose household debt is less than Bt500,000.

A rice-price-guarantee scheme would help ensure farmers' income, while labourers are promised a Bt300 daily minimum wage. This would be complemented by a minimum-income guarantee of Bt15,000 per month for all new graduates.

To guarantee that all can find jobs, Pheu Thai promises Bt1 billion in funding to each university to help new entrepreneurs set up businesses.

While promising more policies to boost the popularity of tourist attractions, she said Pheu Thai would also focus on expanding the railway network. The party would proceed with plans to increase the urban rail lines in Greater Bangkok to 10 and commuters are promised a Bt20 daily fare.

Meanwhile, high-speed trains will link Bangkok and major cities such as Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin. The Airport Rail Link will be extended to Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Pattaya.

"My experience of more than 10 years in business will be applied in implementing political policies," she said.

Yingluck believes that good policies and assistance from such experts as Olarn and Mingkwan would help her government get the best out of the recent global financial crisis, which has resulted in more volatile capital flows.

"The most important thing is implementation. I do believe that my business experience will help, particularly in assessing and analysing problems.

"Certainly, behind the policy to have eggs sold by the kilogram is a lack of understanding. Naturally, eggs are fragile and thus they should not be sold by the kilo," she said, attacking the arch-rival Democrat Party.

Poll: Pheu Thai-Democrat rivalry neck-to-neck : National News Bureau of Thailand

Poll: Pheu Thai-Democrat rivalry neck-to-neck


BANGKOK, 1 June 2011 (NNT) – Competition between the Pheu Thai Party and the Democrat Party is neck-to-neck in nine provinces in the lower North, according to a recent survey by Naresuan Poll of Naresuan University.

Social Science lecturer Asst Prof Dr Jak Panchupet from Naresuan University chaired a press briefing on the survey. It was conducted with 1,828 respondents in nine lower northern provinces from 29 to 30 May 2011 regarding the upcoming election.

The Pheu Thai Party got the highest popularity with a 23.2% support from the respondents, followed by the Democrat Party with 22.2% and other parties 4.5%; however, the remaining 50.1% of the respondents are still undecided which parties they will go for.

As for prime minister candidates, 31.8% of the respondents preferred Democrat candidate Abhisit Vejjajiva while other 29.6% wanted Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck Shinawatra. 7.3% of the respondents chose other candidates while the rest of 31.2% had not made any decision yet.

37.1% of the respondents said they can accept it if the political party winning the majority seats has successfully formed a new government without the leader of that party becoming the prime minister. However, 33.7% of the respondents cannot accept it while other 29.2% refused to comment.

52.2% of the respondents believed that vote-buying will be higher in this election while 7.1% thought the opposite. 24.8% of them were not sure while 15.9% said it will remain in the same level.

50.1% said they can accept it if a political party which does not have the majority of MP seats can form a new government with supports from other parties. 42.7% of the respondents were not sure how the situation in the nation will change if Thailand has a female prime minister.

Other Bangkok Post updates this morning...

I don't want to lead again, says Thaksin
01/06/2011 : SYDNEY: Fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has denied he has ambitions to lead Thailand again, but admitted his youngest sister Yingluck, who is challenging for the post, is his "clone".

Maverick Chuwit turns to English to 'inform the world'
01/06/2011 : Chuwit Kamolvisit, leader of the newly formed Rak Thailand Party, says the party will soon launch an English version of its election campaign materials.

Top Pheu Thai figures give Bhumjaithai cold shoulder
01/06/2011 : NAKHON RATCHASIMA : Two prominent opposition members have rejected Bhumjaithai's overtures to join a coalition if Pheu Thai wins the election and broaden the chance to form the government.

PM says he broke no promises to Banharn
01/06/2011 : Caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded yesterday to allegations by Chartthaipattana Party core member Banharn Silpa-archa that he had broken promises - saying the only thing he had not done for Mr Banharn is visit one of his tourist attractions.

EC prints extra ballot papers
01/06/2011 : The Election Commission says the reason why it is producing millions more ballots than the number of eligible voters for the July 3 election is because it has to cater to advance voting.

Believing that income distribution remains a flaw as reflected by low labour wages despite the overall improvement in the economy, she said this led to huge problems when the poor had to endure higher good prices. This in turn led to higher household debts.

Actually I think the loans offered by TRT increased village debt as they were easy to get, but had to be paid back quickly which saw ppl turn to loan sharks.

Rather than being invested, a lot of the cash was spent on mobile phones, which are now a huge cost are, many of the poor are spending more on them than food or rent.

Thai-ASEAN News Network

Abhisit Calls on Thaksin to Stop Intimidation Efforts

UPDATE : 1 June 2011

The Democrat Party leader has called on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to refrain from mentioning that he will organize a rally of red-shirt supporters if the Pheu Thai Party wins the poll but fails to lead the next administration.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra not to threaten to mobilize supporters if the Pheu Thai Party wins the election but fails to form the next government.

Thaksin mentioned this as part of an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's 'Lateline' TV program at his luxurious home in Dubai.


Abhisit went on to say he is not concerned about chaos breaking out during his campaigning in the North.

He is scheduled to depart Bangkok this evening to spend the night at a temple in Lamphun Province before moving on to campaign in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Phayao in the next two days.

Northern Thailand is a stronghold of the Pheu Thai Party and the anti-government red-shirt group.

Abhisit believes he can clear up any misunderstandings among his opponents after his appearance in the North.

He insisted on continuing with his campaigning even though there has been attempts to thwart him from communicating with the people.

Concerning Chart Thai Pattana de facto leader Banhan Silapa-archa's dissatisfaction with him, the Democrat leader stated he cannot keep his promise about amending the Constitution article on political party dissolution as the Democrat Party's dissolution cases were pending at the time.

He added he, as the prime minister, cannot legalize such a law for the benefit of his own party.

Abhisit disclosed there are a lot of conflicts among coalition partners, but he insisted his actions have always been based on reason and not emotion, adding he does not believe the Bhum Jai Thai or Chart Thai Pattana parties will agree with Pheu Thai's amnesty proposal.

Bangkok Post : EC opens hotline 1171

EC opens hotline 1171

• Published: 1/06/2011 at 12:38 PM
• Online news: Local News

The Election Commission on Wednesday morning officially opened a hotline centre with No 1171 for the people in general to ask for information concerning the July 3 and to inform the polling agency of vote-buying or other violations of the election law.

EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said the centre, manned by the agency's staff in legal and other fields, is opened daily between June 1-July 8 from 8.30am to 8.30pm.

People who have information on electoral fraud can also call 02-1419470 to 76 and 02-141-8045 to 51 or send messages to Facebook:detective.ect[at]hotmail.com or twitter:detective_ect.

^^ better they worry about winning the election; oh, wait, that is exactly whatthey are doing - seting the ground for the EC/DSI/constituition courts...

Originally Posted by SteveCM

My Govt would boost confidence: Yingluck

ELECTION
My Govt would boost confidence: Yingluck

"Certainly, behind the policy to have eggs sold by the kilogram is a lack of understanding. Naturally, eggs are fragile and thus they should not be sold by the kilo," she said, attacking the arch-rival Democrat Party.

Profound.....

What's next? Water is wet? Gravity brings you down?

I can see she is going to do well in a debate.

Love the list of things they are promising to do. Sounds wonderful.

I just don't know how they are going to pay for it.

It sounds like a recipe for massive inflationary pressures, coupled with huge government borrowing. Also I imagine many businesses wont be happy being forced to increase salaries by such a large amount...one wonders how Yingluck/Thaksin will placate them......

^ can I do a TH and say something was lost in translation???

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

It sounds like a recipe for massive inflationary pressures, coupled with huge government borrowing. Also I imagine many businesses wont be happy being forced to increase salaries by such a large amount...one wonders how Yingluck/Thaksin will placate them......

Of course, history proves that the dems are the massive borrowers, not MrT... Every Thai I talk to says (and I don't have an opinion on this, meself) that the PT have far better folk at managing the government ministries/policies/economics. I'm talking about Bkk folk here, none of the people I've spoken to rate the dems at anything. But, they think Abi looks nice and is a 'good man' really. So, I'm talking about perceptions. Basically, PT are seen as far superior at taking the country forward...

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

you seem to just repeat propaganda with no analysis or basis for your argument.

Basically, you are saying that the poor are too stupid to be given money because they spend it on commodities rather than food (you even spell it out in these terms)... what a tosser..

This was her comment: 'Believing that income distribution remains a flaw as reflected by low labour wages despite the overall improvement in the economy, she said this led to huge problems when the poor had to endure higher good prices. This in turn led to higher household debts.' & you managed to turn it into: 'many of the poor are spending more on them (mobile phones) than food or rent'.

If done properly, access to credit can help both rich and poor, done badly it will do more harm than good.

House Debt Almost Doubled from 200 to 2004
There is plenty of analysis, here is the link

Here is an extract (you are an idiot).

The government aimed to use the Village Fund program as a tool to reduce loan sharks. Nevertheless, instead of reducing the prominence of loan sharks, the Village Fund program ended up exacerbating the effect. The need for borrowers to pay back their loans quickly .... caused borrowers to look to loan sharks for more loans to pay back previous loans.

....Household debt had gone up almost 100 percent from

...as household debt significantly increased from 68,405 Baht ($2,072.90) in 2000 (before TRT came to power) to 110,133 Baht ($3,337.40) in the first quarter of 2004, while GNP only increased four to five percent per year.

The interest rate from loan sharks ranged from 43.2 to 49.6 percent, with female borrowers receiving the highest interest rate.

Prior to the Village Fund program, expenditure for
investment was at 45.8 percent, but this figure was reduced to 42 percent after the program was implemented.

The Chamber of Commerce’s findings also shows that 40 percent of the fund was used to repay debt, 20 percent for luxuries, and 5 percent for productive
investment.139 Clearly, the majority of people who took loans from the scheme did not use money to invest in their farms or businesses; instead they used loans to buy
commodities that were beyond the means of decent subsistence, such as clothes and
lotteries.


Most household consumption also went to durable goods, which include motorcycles, electronic devices, and cell phones....

Thus, the Village Fund program seems to have helped increase short-term consumption, but in the long run, people may have ended up in more debt.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

^^ better they worry about winning the election; oh, wait, that is exactly whatthey are doing - seting the ground for the EC/DSI/constituition courts...

Okay BB, I agree that the Dem's seem to be strangely lackluster in this election. They do appear to have been massively wrong-footed by Pheu Thai/Thaksin. And yes, there is a good chance they are playing the long game, with the prospect of dissolving Pheu Thai at a later date, but then again, You could, if you were honest, suggest that a banned politician (Thaksin) who is also coincidentally a convicted felon and on the run, shouldn't be playing politics...and there are rules around such things here. You know, responsibility and all that...

You could if you were able to be a little more fair and balanced...

I doubt such a bizarre situation would be allowed or tolerated in more progressive societies. Could you imagine such a scenario in the UK/USA?

Also Newin, who also seems to be surprisingly (?) active here is also banned and many of the Thaksin fan-club have been very vocal in the past, decrying his machinations, while banned. Where is the criticism of Thaksin doing the exact same thing?

I look forward to the silence, as that is what I expect from certain people here....

One rule for one and another for everyone else...right?

Anyway, did you really expect the military backed junta to simply accept a PT victory? I am sure they have some dubious plan already concocted...they certainly appear to have the courts on their side. It is just a matter of giving proceedings the nod.

Isn't this country just wonderful. It's never boring...

Reconciliation....? Can't see it. If the Pheu Thai party are dissolved, I expect more chaos. However, Pheu Thai could also stick to the rules. No point giving your opponent a stick to beat you with (or gun to shoot you with)....because as the junta have already demonstrated, they certainly will!

Originally Posted by Buksida

There is plenty of analysis, here is the link

http://wesscholar.wesleyan.edu/cgi/v...or+policies%22

A thesis submitted to the
faculty of Wesleyan University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Originally Posted by Buksida

Here is an extract (you are an idiot).

Are you seriously offering an undergraduate study, from a Thai child who attends one of the most expensive private universities in America, as your informed source???

Your sources are on a par with TH's...

Laughable, frankly...

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Reconciliation....? Can't see it. If the Pheu Thai party are dissolved, I expect more chaos. However, Pheu Thai could also stick to the rules.

Rules set up specifically to destroy Thaksin and his party.

Yes your neutrality shines again.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra not to threaten to mobilize supporters if the Pheu Thai Party wins the election but fails to form the next government.

Hey Abhisit , get a grip .

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

You could, if you were honest, suggest that a banned politician (Thaksin) who is also coincidentally a convicted felon and on the run, shouldn't be playing politics...and there are rules around such things here.

I agree to a point. But, larger historical context needs to be considered. Don't forget that he was judged a criminal by coup installed judges using a law that the coup generals forced into the constituition AFTER MrT was ousted by a coup... This wouldn't stand up in any nation, and it doesn't stand up in Thailand either.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

You could if you were able to be a little more fair and balanced...

Semantics, SD, and it doesn't add up; Newin put the dems in power and keeps them there. Who is being selective and unbalanced?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Anyway, did you really expect the military backed junta to simply accept a PT victory? I am sure they have some dubious plan already concocted...they certainly appear to have the courts on their side. It is just a matter of giving proceedings the nod.

I agree with you, but I think this brings bloody civil war. & all because a certain group of army/bluebloods feel that they are above the law, that their little lives are more important than 68 million others.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Isn't this country just wonderful. It's never boring...

You certainly couldn't write it. I'd suggest that all political science MA students from around the globe spend a 6 month sabbatical here...

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Reconciliation....? Can't see it.

Only the PT offer it. That is why I hope they win. If there was any chance of the dems bringing reconcilliation then I'd support them, but they have shown time after time what they are made of...

I suggested earlier that the dems join the PT to form a 'government of the people'. This could work towards reconcilliation and be strong enough to detroy the current patronage system; the problem being that the dems wouldn't be interested - they want the corruption and inequality to continue... & that's a sad reality.