Chartthaipattana opens its doors to all
Party denies Thaksin takeover rumours
Chartthaipattana Party has set its sights on making itself a political institution open to all people, but it is not doing so for a buyout, according to the party’s leading member Warawut Silpa-archa.
At a press conference announcing the party’s future plans, Mr Warawut, son of the late party leader Banharn Silpa-archa, said yesterday the party was working toward institutionalising itself as a party that welcomes everybody. To do so, decisions will be made and mandated by party resolutions.
He also reiterated the party would not be up for sale or controlled by outsiders following rumours that the party was facing financial problems to the extent that it might allow a takeover.
Rumours had begun to spread that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had approached Mr Warawut and offered to take over his party following the death of his father, Banharn Silpa-archa, who was the party leader and former premier, in April.
Mr Warawut denied Thaksin made any such offer.
Mr Warawut said the party was not a commercial business waiting for a merger or acquisition. He said a takeover would betray the spirit of the party which was his father’s “soul”.
“We may not have bundles of cash but we don’t need to rely on anyone financially either. We can stand on our own feet,” he said.
He added he hoped the government would lift the ban and allow political parties to organise activities ahead of the next general election expected some time next year.
After the ban on political activities is removed, the Chartthaipattana Party, being a medium-sized party, plans to mobilise funds as it had done before past elections.
He made it clear that Chartthaipattana would only lay down policies which were practical.
The party will also keep its options open, he said, explaining that it was normal for a political party to join others in forming a government.
However, forming a coalition would be a matter of the future and it by no means implies Chartthaipattana was inviting a takeover bid, said Mr Warawut, responding to a question about whether the Chartthaipattana Party could align itself with the Pheu Thai Party after the next election.
If the party is part of the next government, it would respect the voice of the minority coalition parties and comply with policies of the majority parties, he added.
Commenting on the likelihood of his succeeding his late father and leading the party, Mr Warawut said he was ready to take the party’s helm with the approval of the Chartthaipattana senior members.
If he assumed the leadership of the party that his late father helped to found, he would pick up where the late Banharn had left off and continue the policies he had started. But if he was not chosen to lead the party, he would be content working as a member, said Mr Warawut.