The chances of a compromise candidate being brought in to lead the Thai Government diminished yesterday when former premier Chatichai Choonhavan refused the country's top job.
This makes it more likely that the outgoing leader Banharn Silpa-archa will call fresh elections - rather than hand over to one his disloyal partners.
A move towards a dissolution of Parliament and elections appears to have growing support in Thailand as the scramble to replace Mr Banharn descended into a political farce.
The proud Sino-Thai veteran from Suphan Buri province was ousted on Saturday in what has been described as a political coup by former supporters.
Many of his partners in the ruling six-party coalition demanded that he agreed to 'resign within seven days' as the price of their support in an opposition censure motion. The embittered premier has tried to push forward his 86-year-old brother-in-law - the Chart Thai (Thai Nation) party's Pramarn Adireksarn.
He countered complaints that Mr Pramarn no longer had his mind on the job by then advocating the veteran's son, Pongpol.