By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE PEOPLE’S WILL ultimately not vote in support of Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for head of government again under any circumstances after the Feb.8 general election, People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut reconfirmed today (Jan.12).
Though the People’s ex-MPs had done so to land Anutin an elected premiership with a Bhumjaithai-led minority government last September, the future reformist MPs will by no means repeat it after the upcoming election, said Nattapong who is contesting for prime minister under the People’s tickets against the caretaker prime minister who concurrently acts as the Bhumjaithai leader and others.
If the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai, currently core of the caretaker government under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, grabs most MP seats in the nationwide election, the People’s will immediately give way for the winning party to set up their post-election government and the reformist camp will subsequently find themselves in the opposition bloc at parliament, according to the People’s leader.
But if the People’s wins most MP seats to deserve being core of a post-election government, the reformist MPs will only name their party leader for prime minister regardless of whether the Bhumjaithai might possibly jump onto the bandwagon of a People’s-led coalition government, according to deputy People’s leader Sirikanya Tansakun who is one of Nattapong’s running mates for prime minister besides deputy party leader Veerayooth Kanchoochat.
In the meantime, Nattapong said the People’s will ultimately not align with the Klatham, currently a coalition partner in the Bhumjaithai-led, caretaker government, no matter what party will be the largest elected camp, thus given the opportunity to set up a post-election government.
Former prime minister/Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was the first partisan contestant for prime minister who had unambiguously declared his antagonism against the Klatham under de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao for the latter’s alleged associations with “grey” businesspersons in Thailand.
That apparently referred to Thammanat’s alleged personal ties with suspected transnational scammer Benjamin Mauerberger, alias Ben Smith, among others who had based their shady businesses in Cambodia.
Abhisit had not only publicly pledged to not align with the Klatham but dared the Bhumjaithai to openly tell whether they will eventually accept the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra as potential partner of a Bhumjaithai-led coalition government, coupled with the likelihood of Thammanat’s camp sticking around Newin’s camp.
Abhisit who has returned as leader of the Old School conservative camp has unrelentingly, verbally waged war against what was previously called Thaksin’s regime since the last couple of decades during which the de facto Pheu Thai boss had ruled as head of the executive branch.
The neo-conservative Pheu Thai has sent Thaksin’s nephew Yodchanan Wongsawat contesting for prime minister alongside the party’s electoral campaign director/Sam Mit faction co-leader Suriya Juangroongruangkit and party leader Julapun Amornvivat as his running mates.
However, Thammanat had earlier suggested that his camp would likely align with Newin’s camp and with concerted intent to be part of a Bhumjaithai-led government under Anutin’s prolonged premiership.
CAPTION:
Top – People’s leader and prime minister candidate Nattapong Ruengpanyawut talking to Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Thailand Vision 2035 programme. Photo – Thai Rath
First insert – Former prime minister/Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Photo – Amarin TV
Second insert – Klatham de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao. Photo – Thai Rath
Front Page – People’s leader and prime minister candidate Nattapong Ruengpanyawut speaking at Thailand Vision 2025 programme. Photo – Thai Rath
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