Democrats undecided on choice of allies

By THE NATION

 

File photo: Senior Democrat politician Thaworn Senneam

 

THE DEMOCRAT Party appeared to be juggling between two choices yesterday, as both Pheu Thai and Phalang Pracharat claimed legitimacy to form the next government.

 

Senior Democrat politician Thaworn Senneam, who won the MP seat from Songkhla, said the Democrats should join the coalition led by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat.

 

“It won the most votes – more than 7.9 million,” he noted, before adding the final decision will be made by the party’s new executive board. 

 

“I believe the [new] party executives will display ‘good etiquette’ when making decisions on important matters involving the party,” he said. 

 

Thaworn met with some 30 fellow Democrats – both winners and losers in Sunday’s election – at a Bangkok hotel yesterday. The meeting was held to discuss the possible reasons why the party won fewer seats than usual in its traditional strongholds of Bangkok and South. 

 

Those present at the meeting also agreed that the decision on who the party will be joining should be made by the new party executives and the winning Democrat candidates, Thaworn said.

 

However, deputy party spokesman Chao Meekhuat urged the party to respect the over-3 million people who voted for the Democrats last Sunday. He said, it was because of these voters that |the Democrats managed to win |more than 50 seats in the Lower House. 

 

“The party should base its decision on the policy platform of ‘not supporting the succession of dictatorship and corrupt people’,” he said, adding that the promises made during campaigning should also be taken into consideration.

 

Chao, however, said it was too early to form a new coalition, pointing out that the Election Commission (EC) has yet to release the final results and there is still a possibility of by-elections in some constituencies as the EC is investigating complaints of fraud, Chao said. 

 

He also noted that the EC plans to announce 95 per cent of the election result by May 9, which is still over a month away. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30366743

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-29

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Senior Democrat politician Thaworn Senneam, who won the MP seat from Songkhla, said the Democrats should join the coalition led by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat.

or

7 hours ago, webfact said:

“The party should base its decision on the policy platform of ‘not supporting the succession of dictatorship and corrupt people’,” he said, adding that the promises made during campaigning should also be taken into consideration.

No small wonder Abhisit left. This is a very divided party. 

But maybe they will unite when the trough is laid before them.

Democrat Party is finished.

This day was always going to arrive.

Not much future to be had in being an political party that opposes politics in favour of dictatorship. 

Turkeys voting for Thanksgiving.

Forever tainted as the enablers of the last 15 years of madness.

Adios.

Edited March 29, 20197 yr by pornprong

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Senior Democrat politician Thaworn Senneam, who won the MP seat from Songkhla, said the Democrats should join the coalition led by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat.

Wouldn't expect a different opinion from the leader of the PDRC kissing up to the junta. As deputy leader of the Dem party, he and the party executives have been dominating party policies and direction for too long and have cause the party to decline in popularity country-wise and all seats in Bangkok. The MPs should live up to their campaign pledges of not supporting dictatorship and make the decision whether to support Prayut. They should exercise their own democracy in the party.