PRIME Minister Banharn Silpa-archa - coming down to earth after hosting the 25-country Asia-Europe meeting - admitted on television last night that he might have to resign after the forthcoming no-confidence debate in Parliament.
A political operator like Mr Banharn will not go without a fight, but he knows his substantial majority in the House of Representatives will not save him if his unpredictable partners in the seven-party coalition are tempted by the rewards of disloyalty.
The oppositions' attack is likely to range from accusations of fraud to violations bordering on high farce: a commercial bank is alleged to have lent millions of dollars to a group of young MPs and Mr Banharn's critics claim he had others write his recent degree thesis.
The debate will take place soon after the opposition lodges its no-confidence motion next week. Thai opposition parties routinely make attacks like this, but MPs have been crowing about their 'stunning information' that should persuade any politician 'with a conscience' to leave the Government after the debate.
The most likely candidate to split from the Government appears to be the ambitious leader of the Palang Dharma (Buddhist Way) party which brought down the last Democrat-led government earlier this year.
Mr Banharn said that he never expected to survive his full four-year term (no elected premier ever has), but that 'I will go on as long as I can'.
