By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PEOPLE’S LEADER NATTAPONG Ruengpanyawut today (Dec.12) vowed to see to it that the reformist party will literally become the largest elected camp in an upcoming, general election so that, he remarked, they would be no longer “double-crossed” by others following yesterday’s political dilemma over unfruitful constitution amendment efforts which apparently prompted Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to dissolve the House of Representatives.
In a press conference at the party’s headquarters, the People’s leader pledged to go on his partisan campaign trails nationwide with clearly-defined policy platforms, introduction of electoral contestants and partisan candidates for prime minister during a run-up to the general election largely expected on February 8.
A nationwide election for MPs is legally bound to take place in a 60-day period after the people-elected part of the legislative branch has been dissolved by the head of the executive branch for whatever conceivable reasons whilst the Election Commission has tentatively picked Feb. 8 for the polling date.
“We will continue to talk turkey with our clear-cut policies primarily designed for benefits of the people and resolutely contrive to strengthen ourselves to the extent that we be able to stand on our own feet and be no longer double-crossed by others after the upcoming general election,” Nattapong said, referring to the caretaker prime minister and the ruling Bhumjaithai who, according to political critics, had starkly “double-crossed” the People’s who have invariably aimed to attain the prime target of setting up a single-party government after the nationwide election.
The People’s leader confirmed his camp will send contestants vying in constituency-based mode in all provinces throughout the country in addition to those contesting in party-listed mode.
Largely speculated to win most MP seats in the general election are the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra, the Klatham under de facto party boss/acting Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao and the People’s, practically a resurrection of the court-dissolved Future Forward and Move Forward.
The caretaker prime minister who was immediately blamed for the House dissolution which occurred sooner than earlier expected apparently opted out by doing so in order to preempt censure debate against the prime minister which would be otherwise followed by votes of confidence and no-confidence in the face of an alleged fiasco on the part of the ruling Bhumjaithai over the questionable legislative power of the senators.
The ex-Bhumjaithai MPs and their supportive senators finally made an about-face to vote against an earlier resolution of the majority of an extraordinary House/Senate committee deliberating on legislation on constitution amendment to give a minimum of one-third of the senators a final say in passing such significant bills.
However, Nattapong said he definitely did not regret yesterday’s historic event which prompted Anutin who concurrently acts as leader of the Bhumjaithai, the core partner of the now-caretaking coalition government, to dissolve the House after a majority of Bhumjaithai-led MPs and pro-Bhumjaithai senators cast their surprise vote on the charter bill.
That was successfully provided for a provisional clause to give a minimum of one-third of the senators a final say to legislation on constitution amendment in lieu of a simple majority of MPs and senators combined. Regardless of a probable majority of lawmakers in both the House and Senate combined, no such bills could finally sail through without the decisive one-third of the senators endorsing them accordingly.
The ex-Bhumjaithai MPs and other former coalition lawmakers as well as most of the senators including those who were allegedly more or less influenced by Newin’s camp cast 329 votes in support of the highly contentious endowment of the decisive power of the one-third of the senators whilst 302 others voted against it.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut, centre, flanked by MPs of his camp speaking at a press conference today, Dec. 12, 2025. Photos – Amarin TV
Insert – Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Photo – Amarin TV
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