Chuan tells Chalermchai not to turn into a party ‘reserved’ as future coalition partner

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

FORMER DEMOCRAT LEADER Chuan Leekpai today (Dec.10) suggested the newly-named Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on, the Democrat MPs and fellow partisan members never turn into a party “reserved” as a future coalition partner.

Without naming names, Chuan, a former prime minister and a former House speaker/now a Democrat party-listed MP, said Chalermchai and all newly-named members of the executive board of the second largest opposition party should never “spoil the reputation” of their own camp by becoming sort of a “reserved” party for future use as a partner of the current Pheu Thai-led coalition government.

The former Democrat leader’s comments apparently followed allegations that his latest successor and a faction of 20 MPs under his command have been endeavouring to jump onto the bandwagon of the Pheu Thai-led coalition partners sooner or later.

Chalermchai had held informal talks with former Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva hours before yesterday’s extraordinary caucus was held to pick the partisan leadership, apparently resulting in the latter withdrawing himself from contesting for the top post of the country’s oldest party.

Apart from Abhisit who resigned as Democrat member with immediate effect yesterday, former Democrat leader/former deputy public health minister Satit Pitutecha followed suit in allegedly tacit protest of the naming of Chalermchai as Democrat leader.

According to partisan sources, it is only a matter of time before Chalermchai, a former Democrat secretary-general and a former agriculture & cooperatives minister, may take any chances of becoming a partner of the Pheu Thai-led coalition.

Chuan had earlier unsuccessfully named Abhisit as a contender for Democrat leader whilst former Palang Pracharath MP Watanya “Madam Deer” Bunnag had been disqualified to vie due to her failure to secure partisan membership for a minimum of five consecutive years.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Former Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai, left, and newly-named leader Chalermchai Sri-on, right. Photo: Amarin TV

Front Page: Former Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai. Photo: Matichon

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