Defective defection gossip
Former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin had been off the media radar for quite some time until his name came up as the most senior Democrat Party member to date who may have been made an offer to defect.
A political source said it was rumoured the two-time former Bangkok governor was approached to move to the Phalang Pracharat Party. However, the chances of Mr Apirak leaving the party he has been with for many years, and which has provided him with a strong political platform, are believed to be more or less zero.
The source said unlike many former MPs of other parties who have reportedly joined an exodus thought to be heading to Phalang Pracharat, Democrat members are less motivated to ditch their party.
Phalang Pracharat, believed to be amassing former MPs who previously held seats in past parliaments, is seen to be working to advance the political cause of the regime. It is, according to government critics, designed to serve the ultimate purpose of enabling Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stage a comeback after the election now tentatively set for February.
However, those in the upper echelons of power, including Deputy Prime Ministers Prawit Wongsuwon and Somkid Jatusripitak, have denied any knowledge or association with Phalang Pracharat, even though the term “Pracharat” well describes the governmentinitiated policies to foster closer relations between the state and the public.
The political source noted, however, that some parties are more susceptible to political poaching than others, and that the Democrat happens to be one of those “others”.
A Democrat source said the party treats speculation about Mr Apirak’s possible defection as groundless and not worthy of mentioning. But since Mr Apirak, who occupies the party’s deputy leader seat, was singled out by those grinding the rumour mill, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has come out to publicly deny it.
Also, Mr Apirak has not taken any active role in the party of late, given his preoccupation with the business ventures he is engaged in. The source said Mr Abhisit has been in regular contact with Mr Apirak, and the party leader may be one of the best people to say whether Mr Apirak was having second thoughts on the issue.
The source said it would be inconceivable to think Mr Apirak would turn his back on the Democrats, which has consistently retained strong electoral bases in Bangkok, where the lion’s share of Mr Apirak’s support is concentrated.
The choices available to Mr Apirak were clinging to the Democrats, the country’s oldest political party, or jumping ship to Phalang Pracharat and risk being part of a new faction made up of political groups from different walks of life who do not usually mix and who are bound to come into conflict.
The source said there was not much calculating for Mr Apirak to do. The appeal of remaining with the Democrats over treading a path to an uncertain future was seen as overwhelming. Mr Apirak seems unfazed by the oft-repeated, pre-election slogan: “Defect or face defeat.”
Critics say Phalang Pracharat bears all the hallmarks of being an ad hoc party that could lose its charm after once the new government is installed.
Despite predictions that the Democrats might not win many constituency seats in unfamiliar turf like provinces in the North and Northeast, the new electoral system — under which every vote counts — could help its standing in the party-list system.
The losing votes in the constituencies will be combined and tallied. For every 70,000 attributed to a party, it will earn one MP in the list system. Critics say the new method should encourage parties to canvass outside their comfort zones.