Purachai To Form His Own Party

[webfact]

Pracha Santi: Purachai to form his own party

BANGKOK, 2 April 2011 (NNT) – The newly-formed Pracha Santi Party has claimed that its leader Police Captain Purachai Piumsomboon is planning to resign in order to establish his own political party.

Former Senator and co-founder of the Pracha Santi Party Seri Suwanpanont disclosed that Pol Capt Purachai, who earlier agreed to serve as the party leader, had already registered his own party, named the Rak Santi Party, with the Election Commission (EC). As a result, the official introduction of Pol Capt Purachai as the head of Pracha Santi initially scheduled for today has been called off.

Mr Seri admitted that the reason behind his abrupt departure remained unclear. The party co-founder said he did not know the future of Pracha Santi but asserted that a candidate would be selected from over 5,000 party members for the upcoming general election.

Meanwhile, Pol Capt Purachai refused to answer why he decided to turn away from the Pracha Santi Party. His close-aide Noppadon Inna pointed out that the move was prompted by his supporters’ wish to see changes in Thai politics.

Pol Capt Purachai, who co-founded the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party with ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is deemed by the public as a major election contender against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, according to a survey conducted by Assumption University from 15 to 17 March 2011.

-- NNT 2011-04-02

[webfact]

Former interior minister Purachai Piumsomboon officially announces his intention to return to politics with a new political party /MCOT

[webfact]

Purachai says he is determined to return to politics

BANGKOK, April 2 -- Thailand’s former interior minister Purachai Piumsomboon said Saturday he is determined to return to politics under a new political party which is being formed now and his first priority is to bring back national reconciliation to the country which has been sharply divided following a bloodless coup almost five years ago.

Mr Purachai, an ex-interior minister and formerly a close friend of Thaksin Shinawatra, whose government was ousted in the bloodless coup in September 2006, said during his speech at the Tio Chew Association of Thailand that he had no intention to create a conflict with any party or group and did not want to contest in power-grabbing with any individuals.

He said he just could not sit idly while the “country is encountering crises and people are living miserably.”

Urging eligible voters not to boycott the upcoming general election, expected to be held in either June or July, Mr Purachai urged people to closely follow which party he would join in contesting the election and to choose that particular party if they wanted him to work for the country.

He also urged the voters not to cast a no vote in the ballot at the general election.

Mr Purachai, however, declined to reveal the name of the political party he would join although press reports said he had registered with Rak Santi (Love Peace) Party, saying that several parties had invited him to join and that he would disclose the name of his party after the Election Commission has officially announced the formation of the party.

Dubbed “Mr Clean” while he served in the first Thaksin government for his straightforwardness, Mr Purachai has stayed away from local politics after he quit the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, formed by Mr Thaksin. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-04-02

[marquess]

God help every foreigner or Thai bon vivieur should that man become P.M

[yoshiwara]

Purachai? Thaksin on drugs.

[dominique355]

Is that the guy who introduced the alcohol ban between 2pm and 5pm and the 1am close time for entertainment venues?

God save us from the righteous and bigots with a monopoly on good morals!

[brahmburgers]

I got a bad feeling about this. However, with his deep pockets and charm, he'll probably fool (and pay) a lot Thais to vote for him. He knows how to play the game. He learned well from his bosom buddy; Thaksin. Deja vu all over again. Too bad there's scant little real campaigning in Thailand. As far as I know, there are no televised debates (all the VIPs are afraid of libel suits), and there are no town meetings where everyone is welcome, and any one can speak their mind with no repercussions. Instead, voting in Thailand is essentially 'vote who your told or paid to vote for' - usually the biggest honcho and/or the richest man in the province, or the person he designates.

[TAWP]

Haha, they form a new party Pracha Santi Party and even before it is up and running one co-founder jumps off to form a new party called Rak Santi Party...yeah, they will have a long and stable future.

[asiawatcher]

Never ceases to amaze me how these 'police' suddenly can enter politics? But then I guess even Thaksin was a bagman (in Patpong) so like birds of a feather...

[EyesWideOpen]

If this wack job actually got elected, you will be seeing a lot of farangs leaving here, including myself.

[Oberkommando]

If this wack job actually got elected, you will be seeing a lot of farangs leaving here, including myself.

You'll be seeing that eventually anyway IMHO.

[Buchholz]

Haha, they form a new party Pracha Santi Party and even before it is up and running one co-founder jumps off to form a new party called Rak Santi Party...yeah, they will have a long and stable future.

and now the other paper has him saying no to the Pracha Santi Party AND no to the Rak Santi Party, for now.

"So far, I'm not an official member of any party."

[Siripon]

It's a party of former policemen, ie Patcharawat Wongsuwan,Thawin Surachetapong,Boonreuang Polawawanit.

As such, don't expect anything too liberal!

Perhaps another former policeman, currently residing overseas, is giving it support in an attempt to undermine the Democrats in Bangkok.

[TimeBandit2]

I got a bad feeling about this. However, with his deep pockets and charm, he'll probably fool (and pay) a lot Thais to vote for him. He knows how to play the game. He learned well from his bosom buddy; Thaksin. Deja vu all over again. Too bad there's scant little real campaigning in Thailand. As far as I know, there are no televised debates (all the VIPs are afraid of libel suits), and there are no town meetings where everyone is welcome, and any one can speak their mind with no repercussions. Instead, voting in Thailand is essentially 'vote who your told or paid to vote for' - usually the biggest honcho and/or the richest man in the province, or the person he designates.

That's because there is no policy discourse, and there's no policy discourse because the population has disconnected sense of causality. That's why they can erupt incoherent nonsense like Mt. Kilauea spews lava and it isn't ridiculed, let alone questioned.

That leaves a vacuum of mocking derision that I and others are glad to fill.

[animatic]

Well if anything his candidacy will syphon off Thaksin votes from PTP, a positive thing.

It is the season of 'Big Swinging Dicks' and 'Egos Run Amok' in the Thai political world. A new election and all the egos come out of the wood work to try and increase face and profits. And as usual the only thing they succeed in doing is water down a definite win by any larger party.

[Siripon]

Well if anything his candidacy will syphon off Thaksin votes from PTP, a positive thing.

It is the season of 'Big Swinging Dicks' and 'Egos Run Amok' in the Thai political world. A new election and all the egos come out of the wood work to try and increase face and profits. And as usual the only thing they succeed in doing is water down a definite win by any larger party.

The 4 biggest egos in Thai politics are as follows in my opinion:

1. Thaksin ( condition untreatable)

2. Sonthi Limthongkun ( a prison sentence could possibly partially reduce the size of the ego)

3. Jamlong Srimuang ( enjoying austerity, prison is unlikely to assist his condition,untreatable)

4. Purachai (a massive failure in the coming election could alleviate his condition but it is unlikely to see permanent improvement)

[Buchholz]

Seems it is obligatory to announce one is quitting politics.... in order to continue in politics...

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsombun also announced his retirement from the Thai politics, saying that he would like to live with his family in New Zealand and become a lecturer there.

--TNA 2005-03-09

which comes from a thread about another veteran politician that "quit politics"... and continues in politics...

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s deputy Prime Minister and veteran politician Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has announced his retirement from the local politics.

"quit politics"

[otherstuff1957]

I wonder if Purachai's coyness about choosing a party might have anything to do with this:

Thaksin said he was frustrated at some Pheau Thai MPs trying to put pressure on him to come up with the name of the party's candidate to be the next prime minister.

"I am sick and tired of these people. We are in the opposition. What's the hurry about naming our candidate as prime minister? Wait until the House is dissolved...and I will let you know the name," he said.

When you combine that with this:

Purachai has often been cited as a preferred candidate to become prime minister. A recent public opinion poll by Assumption University showed that 41.2 per cent of respondents wanted him to contest for the premiership against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

You might have a real game-changer.

Thaksin & Purachai were in bed together in the past, they might be doing a bit of smoke and mirrors to disguise a renewed alliance. A PT - Purachai alliance just might give them enough votes to form a new government - especially since Snoh has already joined them.

[Pi Sek]

Yes, I can see "Mr. Clean" Purachai giving in to the money and becoming PTP leader. The horse trading session opened with Snoh (although Pracharaj was aligned with Peua Thai anyway) and I think we've yet to see quite a bit more.

He's not as pure as his name suggests - although he's certainly purer than most Thai politicians - but he is apparently a very popular choice for PM amongst Thais, possibly even moreso than both Thaksin and Abhisit, so he would a hot asset to a party needing a leader but who won't/can't nominate one.

[hammered]

Yes, I can see "Mr. Clean" Purachai giving in to the money and becoming PTP leader. The horse trading session opened with Snoh (although Pracharaj was aligned with Peua Thai anyway) and I think we've yet to see quite a bit more.

He's not as pure as his name suggests - although he's certainly purer than most Thai politicians - but he is apparently a very popular choice for PM amongst Thais, possibly even moreso than both Thaksin and Abhisit, so he would a hot asset to a party needing a leader but who won't/can't nominate one.

But nobody is sure if Purachai will tend more to PT or BJT, which may be something he wants to keep as it is. Purachai as PM from a small party may work if one accepts that a deal has been cobbled together between the players in the Thai drama

[otherstuff1957]

^ Indeed. If neither PT nor the Democrats can cobble together a coalition, Purachai might be a compromise PM that both sides put up with.

I'm sure that there are lots of negotiations going on behind the scenes. We can probably expect more unlikely alliances, betrayals and announcements between now & the election. I doubt if we have heard the last of Chalerm, Banharn, Newin and (of course) Thaksin.

[animatic]

Yes, I can see "Mr. Clean" Purachai giving in to the money and becoming PTP leader. The horse trading session opened with Snoh (although Pracharaj was aligned with Peua Thai anyway) and I think we've yet to see quite a bit more.

He's not as pure as his name suggests - although he's certainly purer than most Thai politicians - but he is apparently a very popular choice for PM amongst Thais, possibly even moreso than both Thaksin and Abhisit, so he would a hot asset to a party needing a leader but who won't/can't nominate one.

But nobody is sure if Purachai will tend more to PT or BJT, which may be something he wants to keep as it is. Purachai as PM from a small party may work if one accepts that a deal has been cobbled together between the players in the Thai drama

No doubt the money is part of the equation, but EGO is the big sop for these guys, the lure of ONE MORE HURRAH, and that at the top of the heap for even 6 months will make those public wais go that 1 cm higher and the bows 5 cm lower and the seats at fetes that much more elevated at the dias, and many more dinner checks picked up by others at the best restaurants.

Edited April 4, 2011 by animatic

[Siripon]

If this wack job actually got elected, you will be seeing a lot of farangs leaving here, including myself.

You'll be seeing that eventually anyway IMHO.

Purachai dislikes Westerners, and Thaksin said after he was refused entry to the UK that the English people 'would feel great sorrow' one day.