The "formidable" party Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) will collapse after the 2010 elections, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. predicted Friday.

"Itong bagong partido na ito that President Ramos and I oppose, parang yan KBL (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) ni [former president Ferdinand] Marcos ito. Naging monster and it collapsed after a few months, immediately after the [1986] elections (This new party that President Ramos and I oppose is like Marcos's KBL. It became a monster and it collapsed after a few months, immediately after the elections)," De Venecia told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."

De Venecia said signs of the new party's collapse were very visible during the formal signing of its merger on Thursday at the Manila Hotel.

"Maraming leaders ng CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) -- governors, congressmen, mayors -- ang hindi invited at hindi nag-attend (Several CMD leaders --- governors, congressmen, mayors -- were not invited and did not attend)," the former speaker said, referring to local officials who are in conflict with Kampi members in local areas.

De Venecia and former President Ramos, who both created Lakas-CMD party, did not attend the signing of the official merger of the three parties.

The former speaker said Ramos told him that they would only be used as "rubber stamps" if they attend the assembly.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, one of the officials of Lakas-CMD, said Ramos failed to attend assembly because he had just arrived from the United States and had to pass by the hospital on Thursday.

Claudio also clarified that Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, another Lakas official, was in China, but he sent a representative -- Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista -- to the assembly.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, a presidential aspirant and one of the loyal members of Lakas, snubbed the assembly. He was protesting the new party's possible endorsement of non-party members for the presidential bid, referring to Vice President Noli de Castro and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

He said people behind the Lakas-Kampi merger will work hard to keep the new party united. He said they are continuously working on the conflict between warring Kampi and Lakas members at the local level.

In her speech during the official merger, President Arroyo said the new party is the administration's "finest weapon and perhaps our best guarantee for success in the 2010 elections."

“Doubting Thomases—and there were many—said that the merger between the two biggest political parties in the country would not come to pass. The road to this merger has neither been short nor easy. The road ahead is likely strewn with more challenges and trials but we have made a great leap of faith and statesmanship today,” she said.