By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FORMER DEMOCRAT MP Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has become top leader of a brand-new Ruam Thai Sarng Chart Party, widely known to be supportive of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
In today’s (August 3) extraordinary caucus of Ruam Thai Sarng Chart Party, Pirapan was named top leader of the MP-less party which is largely speculated to endorse Prayut as head of government again after the next general election.
Pirapan confirmed he will still act as adviser to Prayut in concurrent fashion after he had earlier joined the largest coalition partner Palang Pracharath Party led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.
Meanwhile, former Democrat MP Ekanat Prompan was named secretary-general of Ruam Thai Sarng Chart Party which was founded by Seksakol Attawong, former assistant to a Prime Minister’s Office minister attached to Government House.
Pirapan said his camp expects to win MP seats for southern constituencies contesting against current coalition partners namely Bhumjaithai Party, Democrat Party and Palang Pracharath Party.
Pirapan and Ekanat were known to expect solid support from among southern constituents who had earlier joined the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee headed by former Democrat party secretary-general Suthep Thuagsuban.
In 2014, Suthep had organised anti-government protests on Bangkok streets, shut down government premises and thwarted a general election only to give the then-army chief Prayut the opportunity to stage a coup, oust former premier Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government and name himself an unelected head of government since.
CAPTION:
Ruam Thai Sarng Chart Party’s top leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga talking to the press, above, and standing on stage with other key party members, Front Page. Photos: Matichon
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