Pareena’s words ruffle feathers
Awar of words between the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the opposition bloc is likely to continue after the ruling coalition party decided to appoint Ratchaburi MP, Pareena Kraikup, as a member of the party’s strategic committee.
The PPRP has a special assignment for Ms Pareena, which is to counter claims and criticisms against the party. However, some political observers doubt that the PPRP is putting the right man, or in this case a woman, on the job considering what the veteran MP has been doing over the past two months.
The politician has been gaining attention, although not always in a noble way.
She posted a video clip of herself criticising Pannika Wanich, a fellow MP and spokeswoman of the opposition Future Forward Party, using the rude prefix “E” in referring to Ms Pannika. Since then Ms Pareena, who is very active on social media and never short of controversial comments, has become Ms Pannika’s chief critic.
One of her social media posts has even turned into a legal battle. The FFP recently filed a defamation suit against Ms Pareena over a Facebook post allegedly linking FFP leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Ms Pannika to the Aug 2 bomb blasts in Bangkok and Nonthaburi.
Despite such controversial comments from Ms Pareena, no PPRP figures seem bothered. The move to appoint her as a member of the strategic committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is being seen by some political observers as party approval of her antics.
And to the surprise of many political observers, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, while addressing the bomb attacks and asking the public not to jump to conclusions, has suggested that the four-time MP might not have posted it herself.
While the appointment has yet to be made official, Ms Pareena has wasted no time in taking to task FFP secretary-general and list-MP Piyabutr Saengkanokkul who is pressing the prime minister over the oathtaking controversy.
Gen Prayut is under fire for failing to answer the opposition’s questions about the alleged incomplete recital of the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony. He is accused of omitting the oath’s final sentence, a vow to uphold and abide by the constitution, and thus violating the charter.
The prime minister has failed to address the oath-taking issue in parliament at least twice and has reportedly called on concerned parties to wait for a decision from the Office of Ombudsman, which is expected to decide later this month whether to forward the oathtaking petition against Gen Prayut to the Constitutional Court.
Meanwhile, Ms Pareena has told Mr Piyabutr not to politicise the issue which is being considered by the Office of Ombudsman and the National Anti-Corruption Commission after the FFP and its opposition partners threatened to file a motion under Section 152 of the constitution for a general parliamentary debate to grill the premier.
“Let the legal process run its course. Don’t try too much [on asking the prime minister to explain the issue in the House]. It will be wasting the House’s time,” she was quoted as saying.