The decision of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call an early poll will do little to root out the causes of the nation's current political turmoil

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has given his word: the nation, submerged in political uncertainty, will likely go to the polls in June. In March, his Democrat Party released a policy statement promising to increase the minimum wage by 25% over the next two years, provide education loans for 250,000 university students, issue more community land titles and establish a 2,500-strong taskforce to help suppress drug usage and trafficking.

It seems Abhisit is determined to buy his way back into power.

For critics, such policies evoke memories of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his populist ideas. Ironic, it would seem, considering the Democrats' previously strong reproach of such people-centric policies.

"We want the country to move ahead and the people to have a better quality of life," Abhisit recently proclaimed. But, as one Red Shirt member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) argued, better quality of life existed under Thaksin's regime – it was Thaksin's opponents who took it away.

Such sentiments are strong in the north and northeast regions of Thailand, Thaksin's stronghold, where the Democrat Party remains hugely unpopular.

Over to the opposition Puea Thai Party, which members claim has election funds of $164m at its disposal. Thaksin is believed to be the largest financial supporter of the Puea Thai Party. Last year, some of its members travelled to Beijing to meet with Thaksin on how to carry out the election campaign.

In reality, Puea Thai has many hurdles to overcome. Its lack of leadership and close association with the red-shirted UDD are problematic. Disagreements over how to reposition the party are also increasingly intense.

Abhisit, too, has obstacles ahead. First, his government may have to deal with political violence among rival parties. Earlier, the opposition proposed a three-day censure debate to grill Abhisit and nine cabinet members. The Puea Thai wanted to use the no-confidence motion to attack the government's use of military forces to disperse anti-government Red Shirt protests last year, in which 91 people were killed.

Second, Abhisit will have to manage the Yellow Shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its demand on his government to get tough on the Preah Vihear temple issue. The PAD has proven a potential threat by stirring up nationalism against Cambodia.

Major General Chamlong Srimuang, a core PAD leader, reproached plans for an early election. For Chamlong, Thai politicians have been unable to solve problems of vote-buying, and an election would only perpetuate such practices. He suggests postponing elections until a new political structure is in place.

Chamlong is right, but only partly. An election is not the answer to Thailand's crisis. The problem is not about vote-buying or corruption. It has to do with those in power and their continued avoidance of the most important issues – political grievances, double standards, the unequal share of political power and the uneven distribution of national wealth. Thailand's many.

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