By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE PEOPLE’S today (May 13) decided to virtually “pickle a cobra in a bottle of brine” after a renegade People’s MP had demanded a formal ouster from the largest opposition party so he could practically skip over to a coalition camp.
In a press conference at parliament, People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut said the party’s executive board will by no means oust People’s MP Krit Chivathammananon as member of the party despite his resolute demand that they do it shortly so he could eventually join the Klatham, one of the Pheu Thai-led coalition partners, with his MP status entirely remaining intact.
But Nattapong commented that such a political phenomenon will not happen with any of his partisan colleagues who, he said, should be given a lesson to learn pertaining to their “betrayal” of the people’s will, referring to the previous election through which they had been sent to parliament by their constituents.
Krit said he had not been given enough support from the People’s for his work in the interests of his constituents in the eastern province, and that he could no longer stand it, thus insisting that the party’s executive board formally expel him immediately so that he could smoothly move on to the Klatham.
But the People’s leader categorically dismissed those allegations made by the rebellious MP who had been quietly encouraged by the Klatham to turn coat and join the coalition partner.
The Klatham, largely viewed as sort of a branch of the Pheu Thai, core of the current coalition government, is quietly steered by Klatham MP Thammanat Prompao, a former agriculture & cooperatives minister and former secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath, who is personally close to Klatham leader/Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat.
Nevertheless, Nattapong said the People’s executive board has not only resolved to keep Krit as partisan member currently representing Chonburi, albeit openly rebellious and defiant, but to file a petition to the relevant authorities to determine whether such demands on his part may be considered a voluntary resignation as partisan member, thus rendering an automatic loss of his MP status as well as warranting a by-election to find his replacement in a 60-day time as provided by law.
“We will by no means serve whatever his demand may be from us but we will pickle the cobra in a bottle of brine,” the People’s leader metaphorically put it.
In Thai political jargon, a “cobra” refers to one party’s renegade MP who may have been coaxed, cajoled or “bought in cash” by another to turn coat and openly vote against resolutions, legislations or motions made by the former whilst individually performing in line with the latter in hopes of being formally expelled by the former so that the rebellious, elected lawmaker could eventually register for membership of the latter with his or her MP status being kept intact.
In case that any MPs are formally expelled from their current party, the elected lawmakers will immediately lose their partisan membership but concurrently not their MP status and yet be legally allowed to find new camps to register for partisan memberships in a 60-day period to automatically maintain their MP status.
In the 2023 election, the then Move Forward, dissolved by court and resurrected as the People’s, swept seven out of a total 10 constituencies of Chonburi, leaving one to the Pheu Thai, Ruam Thai Sang Chart and Palang Pracharath each.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut. Photos: Thai Rath
Also read: Bhumjaithai might be kicked out of govt after Budget Bill sails through
New Covid wave less dangerous, most don’t need a jab: Doctor
Cabinet nod for issuing 5bn baht digital tokens as new fundraising channel
Military officials of India and Pakistan to discuss next steps, says India as ceasefire holds
US and China take a step back from sky-high tariffs, agree to pause for 90 days
Analysis: Thaksin stuck in cul-de-sac steering Pheu Thai-led govt
