Puea Pandin(For the Motherland) Party on Tuesday announced its withdrawal from Samak’s governing coalition, citing differences over the constitution amendment plan and Preah Vihear dispute.

Puea Pandin (For the Motherland) Party leader, Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti has announced in a press briefing at Ministry of Industry to withdraw the party support from the Samak coalition government, saying his party opposed the PPP-led government’s intention to revise the current military-backed constitution.

“Puea Pandin had previously expressed its concern over a constitutional amendment and instead preferred the coalition government spend more efforts to resolve economic problems” Suwit said, adding that most importantly, his party had disagreed with the Samak government’s handling of the Preah Vihear controversy.

Puea Pandin leader told reporters that both issues are the main reason to abandon the coalition alliance.

Besides, Mr. Suwit also mentioned that Puea Pandin party, as a member of the coalition government, worked closely with the People Power Party-led coalition government to solve such controversial issue until new minister of foreign affairs has been appointed, succeeding Noppadon Pattama who resigned mid-July.

“But the party is not satisfied with the government’s decisions on the temple issue, especially an issue of sovereignty”, Suwit said

“With regard to Puea Pandin’s withdrawal from the PPP-led coalition government, I have already informed Prime Minister after cabinet meeting and I think that none of the 24 MPs of the party would be bribed into rebelling against their own party.

However, from now on, restoring national reconciliation and building a new politics will be new policy focus of our party because I don’t want to see a confrontation among Thais. Regarding Chatthai(Thai Nation) party, whatever decisions they make, it depends upon their own discretion. I have already notified Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-acha”, Suwit said

The move came after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej confirmed he would on Wednesday reshuffle the Cabinet. According to reliable sources, Samak might remove Suwit from the Cabinet line-up. That would be the real reason of the Party’s departure.

Mr. Nikron Jamnong, a deputy leader of the Chart Thai party, said about Chart Thai position on the announcement of the withdrawal from the coalition of Puea Pandin by leader Suwit Khunkitti that the party has not made any decision to take any action yet because Puea Pandin’s position is not clear whether or not Suwit’s announcement was the party decision.

“Chart Thai, therefore, needs to wait for clarification on this subject”, said Nikron

“Chart Thai party at this moment could not proclaim its position. We have to wait 1 day or 2 days. After Suwit’s resignation, there have been no comments from Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silapa-acha. In addition, the other leaders of the party haven’t asked Puea Pandin members what happened. And, I believe Pueda Pandin pullout would not have an impact on Chart Thai party because each political party is independent” , Nikron said

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej confirmed the departure of the Puea Pandin Party from his coalition government will by no means affect the reshuffled list of his new cabinet.

During the general election held on Dec. 23 last year, Puea Pandin Party became the fourth biggest party after it won a total of 24 of the 480 parliament seats. It attended the coalition government with other five parties in January.

Puea Pandin Party has 24 members in lower house of parliament, while the six-party coalition has a total of 316 members.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s six-party coalition will still control more than half of the seats in the lower house of the 480-seat Parliament, even without the Puea Pandin Party’s 24 seats