ABOUT Politics
Rumours of overtures to ‘buy into’ Chartthaipattana linger Thaksin tacitly endorses Khunying Sudarat for Pheu Thai leadership Democrat Party leader said to face ‘hidden enemies’ for party stewardship
Takeover threat sweats
The image of the Chartthaipattana leader apparently breaking into a sweat before speaking earlier this week at a press conference to address what policy direction the party will take gave some political insiders the impression he was nervous.
Warawut Silpa-archa, who has not been frequently reported in the news, was thrust into the media limelight after the news broke that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was rumoured to have made an overture to buy into the party.
Mr Warawut — the only son of the late Chartthaipattana co-founder Banharn Silpa-archa — figured the only way to quash the rumour was to hold a news briefing to deny it, and convince people that affiliation to his party was not a commodity that can be traded.
However, political analysts insisted no party is safe from a takeover, which can exist in a variety of forms. They concluded there was nothing untoward about such a move under democratic rule.
Even Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Assembly, agreed it was perfectly sensible and legal for political parties to embrace the idea of a “merger and acquisition”, as long as voters who elected the the newly conjoined parties were not in any way deceived.
In the case of Chartthaipattana, one political source said there were a number of reasons to lead onlookers to believe the party may be vulnerable to a takeover.
After Banharn’s death, which, in Mr Warawut’s words, came too soon, the party may have been ill-prepared for a leadership vacuum. Banharn was an imposing figure who had the last say in running the party for years, and his sudden loss left the party fumbling for a new “tie that binds”, according to the source.
In terms of the party’s financial security, some members might feel they are now at a low ebb compared to when Banharn was around. However, Mr Warawut maintained that while the party may no longer be loaded with cash, it can still get by financially.
The source also said that party members must be looking for a strong leader but they may not find Mr Warawut, who has vowed to follow in his father’s footsteps if senior members consent, to be an ideal choice given that he lacks political experience and respectability.
The source argued the new constitution is a game changer in many election-related aspects, particularly the electoral system. The system, which imposes new restrictions on how parties can fill parliamentary seats, is expected to reduce the size of large parties, compelling them to partner up with smaller parties to try and win.
The electoral system rewritten by the referendum-endorsed charter aims to prevent any party from having a majority of MPs. As such, rivals will be under greater pressure to team up to form a coalition government.
Mr Warawut has thanked the rumour mongers for whipping up the takeover hype, which has made his party look more attractive to potential suitors. His remark, while laced with sarcasm, has reinforced the belief of many people that small- and medium-sized parties will enjoy more bargaining power with bigger parties at the next election.
Meanwhile, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told a current affairs programme that while there may be some substance to rumours of Chartthaipattana flirting with a takeover bid, the possibility of it being asked to merge with a bigger party is more likely down to Thaksin rather than the new election system.
Speaking days before Mr Warawut’s press conference, Mr Abhisit said Thaksin has been struggling and sees no sign that his ambitions will be realised. He gave the example of Thaksin’s craving for amnesty for his crime of helping his former wife clinch the Ratchadaphisek land deal at a discount.
Mr Abhisit theorised that Thaksin, the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has a dwindling set of options. He said these include solidifying the party in the next poll so he can regain access to the government. Increasing the party’s standing would require banding together with smaller parties, and the Chartthaipattana may just fit the bill.
Pheu Thai power struggle
Uncertainty hanging over the Pheu Thai Party leadership could be settled sooner rather than later with a plan possibly conceived to enlist the help of a party outsider with strong credentials to fight the next general election.
The party source said former Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan has emerged as a strong candidate for the former ruling party. She has been a close aide of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to be the Pheu Thai de facto leader.
It was getting clearer by the day that Khunying Sudarat was poised to win Thaksin’s support to lead the party judging from the reopening of a room, which used to function as the nerve centre of the Pheu Thai headquarters.
The source said an office on the 8th floor of the headquarters building in Bangkok — reserved as a private room for Thaksin and which had been closed for years since the former premier was ousted from power in the military coup in 2006 — was recently unlocked and handed over for use by Khunying Sudarat.
According to the source, this was taken as a show of Thaksin’s trust in Khunying Sudarat to head the party into the election battle set to take place next year.
It is also believed to carry an unspoken message from Thaksin to the Pheu Thai members that they should come to terms with Khunying Sudarat being the new party boss, the source said.
However, speculation of Khunying Sudarat emerging as a strong candidate for the leadership has stirred discontent in the party. Displeased with the news were some of the prominent “matrons” of the party who control factions and command deep respect among members.
Khunying Sudarat also has a following in the party, but it is largely limited to the former MPs and members belonging to the Bangkok faction.
The source said party members, regardless of what faction they belong to, have been communicated the same message from Thaksin that they should brace for the likelihood of Khunying Sudarat being picked as their next leader.
As Khunying Sudarat has won Thaksin’s endorsement, a plan may have been hatched that will decide how the Pheu Thai Party will go into next year’s election battle with the aide of a small party that will come in handy as an ally in case Pheu Thai is victorious in the election and claims the right to form a coalition government.
The small party would also need a leader, and one potential candidate may have leaped to the fore.
Former national police chief Sereepisuth Temeeyaves has recently left a good impression with Thaksin after he lashed out at the government for inking a recent contract to buy a submarine from China worth 13 billion baht.
In his webpage “Freedom of Choice,” Pol Gen Sereepisuth took to task the budget, which he insisted could have been better spent on more bread-and-butter matters. He added it was a question of prioritising procurement projects during a slowing economy.
The former national police chief went on to say he has never witnessed large and costly armaments bought by the armed forces being deployed to defend the country.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth added the submarine deal would incur a long tied-over financial obligation that will the national coffers for years to come.
His criticism came despite the navy holding a press conference on board the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet two weeks ago to explain the deal. The navy sought to rebut a host of doubts and allegations including the cost effectiveness of the deal and the Thai territorial seas being too shallow to accommodate the submarines.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth’s comments may not have won him praise from government supporters, but he may have struck a chord with Thaksin.
The Pheu Thai source said it may not be far-fetched to think Thaksin has found a potential candidate to take the saddle of a small party he may have prepared which can align with the Pheu Thai Party after the next general election.
Challenges for Abhisit
Veteran Democrat Party member Pichet Panwichartkul recently warned party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to keep an eye out for some “hidden enemies’’ in the party who may turn against him when the party is expected to choose its new leader late this year after the constitution’s organic law governing political parties is enacted.
Political parties must select party executives within six months of the enactment of the organic law.
Mr Pichet, a former deputy finance minister, wrote on Facebook he was convinced that some people both from inside and outside the party, are looking to unseat Mr Abhisit as party leader.
Even though Mr Abhisit has gained recognition and support from most party members who want him to carry on leading the Democrat Party, Mr Abhisit may also be aware there are some “hidden enemies” bent on wresting party leadership from him, Mr Pichet wrote.
Mr Pichet was understood to have referred to some members of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who were former Democrat members and reportedly plan to return to the party so as to prepare for the next general election expected to be held some time in the middle of next year.
“There are some people both inside and outside the party who are eager to throw down the gauntlet to Mr Abhisit. In the event Mr Abhisit is willing to step down from the party leadership or if a party leadership crisis occurs, some precautions must be taken,” Mr Pichet wrote.
“Under these circumstances, I think it is time for Chuan Leekpai, the chief of the party’s advisory body, to make sacrifices and step in to salvage the party, otherwise the party will end up in ruins,” the Facebook post reads.
Mr Pichet expressed confidence that even though Mr Chuan will turn 80 next year, the former prime minister still has what it takes to restore the party to its former glory.
Mr Pichet’s Facebook post has sparked media speculation that the Democrat Party could possibly be thrown into disarray as soon as the organic law on political parties comes into force.
Mr Pichet’s comments came as Witthaya Kaewparadai, a former PDRC key leader and a former Democrat MP, quit the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) in what is seen as a move to make a political comeback and prepare himself to contest the next general election under the Democrats’ ticket.
Mr Witthaya is expected to return to his “second home”, the Democrat Party, observers noted.
Mr Witthaya is the right-hand man of Suthep Thaugsuban, chairman of the Muan Maha Prachachon for Reform Foundation — a reincarnation of the PDRC which spearheaded the anti-government demonstrations against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration in late 2013, culminating in the May 2014 military coup that toppled her government.
However, while Mr Abhisit and other key Democrat Party figures have acknowledged Mr Pichet’s concerns, they still did not think the issue would be a big deal, a party source said.
This is because Mr Abhisit had met Mr Suthep to clear the air over any misunderstandings, the source said.
The source said Mr Suthep had assured Mr Abhisit that he would not support anyone to rival Mr Abhisit’s bid for party leadership. However, Mr Suthep still wields influence and commands the respect of some key party members, onlookers note.