Charter bid first goal for FF Party
>> The Future Forward (FF) Party will kick off its campaign to amend the 2017 constitution on Feb 25, a day after the planned general election.
The party, one of eight new parties endorsed so far by the Election Commission, started recruiting members yesterday at the Thai Summit Tower on New Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok.
Among well-known people applying to be members was Charnvit Kasetsiri, former Thammasat University rector, and a number of ex-politicians.
Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said the party will open applications for MP candidates on Oct 18.
The former auto-parts tycoon reiterated that Future Forward would field candidates in all 350 constituencies. “We aim to be a national party. Without enough MP candidates, we won’t be able to achieve our goals.”
As a new player, Future Forward is viewed by some as benefiting from the new mixed-member apportionment system to be used in the upcoming election as that system counts valid votes for all parties regardless of who wins in a constituency.
Mr Thanathorn declined to give the estimated number of MPs his party hopes for.
Future Forward has set up branches in six provinces: Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Rayong, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Narathiwat. The law requires a party to have branches in at least four regions.
“Our vision of Thailand2x — equality and modernity — is our compass and all our policies will be based on these two core concepts,” he said.
“We don’t want only power. Our three goals are to stop the power succession by the NCPO, to rewrite the constitution and to eliminate the legacy of the coup-makers.
“In order to do so, I must be the prime minister. But we don’t dream of having power for power’s sake, we need power so we can use it to change society. Being prime minister is not a goal. It’s a means,” he said.
Starting on Feb 25 next year, a day after the general election if the timetable isn’t changed, Future Forward will kick off a campaign to change the constitution, which requires a third of the 250 senators, appointed by the regime, to approve.
After the cabinet is sworn in, the NCPO will be dissolved. “If millions of people rise, the pressure can force the senators to side with people and vote for the amendment,” Mr Thanathorn said.
Somkiat Santakorn, 58, a vendor who travelled from Chumphon with his family to register as members of the party, said he liked the policy guidelines and had faith in the democratic stance of the party.
“What I want Future Forward to do quickly is fix the economy. People don’t have enough money in their pockets and things have not improved over the past few years. Next, I want to see changes in the laws and constitution for equality of rights.”
Passakorn Suttadham, 36, a company employee, said he signed up because the party’s ideology matched his. He would like to see changes in the constitution because it aims to block certain groups and gives certain groups a political advantage, he said, citing appointed senators.
He also likes the idea of increasing opportunities and equality.
“For example, beer can only be produced in large quantities, which limits the possibility of manufacturing it to only a handful of wealthy groups. I also want to see a hyperloop in Thailand. It should bode well for transport.”
Member registration can also be done online for people residing in Thailand via the party’s website starting today.