Mr Thanathorn, accompanied by Khampong Thepakham and Thaweesak Thaksin, former MPs of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP), visited Nang Rong district in Buriram yesterday (Jan 8) to campaign for Phet Supattakul, the PP’s candidate for Constituency 8 of this eastern province, reports the Bangkok Post.
Buriram is the political stronghold of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), of which Anutin is leader. The event, held at Nang Rong municipal fresh market, drew a lively crowd, with residents offering encouragement and posing for photographs.
In his speech, Mr Thanathorn said many voters had been bitterly disappointed after the previous election, when Pita Limjaroenrat failed to become prime minister and the MFP was unable to form a government, despite hopes for meaningful change.
He said the upcoming election would be the first in 15 years in which the people’s votes could genuinely lead to the formation of a government, recalling 2011 as the last time this had truly occurred.
Addressing concerns the PP may once again back Bhumjaithai, Mr Thanathorn dismissed such claims.
“Listen carefully,” he said. “In this election, there is no chance that the People’s Party will vote for Mr Anutin to be prime minister. Do not believe the fake news.
“A vote for the People’s Party would lead to Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the party leader, becoming prime minister.”
Parliament, led by the PP, voted on Sept 5 last year to have Anutin become the 32nd prime minister following the dismissal of former premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra by the Constitutional Court.
Mr Thanathorn said critics had previously written off the MFP as an “alternative” party incapable of becoming a major force. However, he said the 2023 election had proven otherwise. Whether it would now form a government, he said, depended on the people.
The MFP was dissolved on Aug 7, 2024 by a Constitutional Court order for attempted subversion of the constitutional monarchy. From that the PP was created.
On Wednesday, Mr Thanathorn posted a statement on Facebook to clarify what he described as inaccurate media reports claiming that, after the election, the PP would not join forces with Pheu Thai or Bhumjaithai to form a government.
Mr Thanathorn wrote: “I would like to clarify that I did not say what some media outlets have reported. The formation of a government is a matter for the party’s executive committee. My role as a campaign assistant is to support the People’s Party in winning as many seats as possible and to see Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut become prime minister.”
He concluded by calling on all news organisations that had published the reports to take responsibility and issue corrections without delay.
Chuvit Kamolvisit, a former politician, wrote on Facebook that the public should not be surprised if the PP was ultimately forced to choose between abandoning its ideals and becoming absorbed into the old political system in order to govern, or clinging to its principles while remaining in opposition. He noted Mr Natthaphong, the PP leader, had reiterated that no MP from the PP would ever again vote for Anutin as prime minister.