All in it together
After months of anxiety about the Democrat Party splitting up ahead of the next general election, it may be trying to pull itself together and make a pact to remain undivided.
At a recent low-key gathering, hundreds of the party’s core members turned out in a show of unity and promised to stay with the party and fight the upcoming elections together.
According to a party source, about 300 members turned up — a relatively strong turnout — even though party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was notably absent, apparently to avoid drawing attention from the military.
Mr Abhisit was aware of the gathering, which took place about two weeks ago at a hotel in a Bangkok suburb, according to the source, but he chose not to attend to comply with the regime’s ban on political activities.
The meeting, according to the source, was attended by party bigwigs at national and local level. They pledged to stay united and contest the general election under the Democrat ticket no matter when it takes place.
Even those who joined the former People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) mass protest against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration confirmed their allegiance to the party. They insisted no one would break away to join a new party.
“There is a movement to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to remain in power after the general election. The Democrats will have a really difficult time winning a mandate [in the next election]. But we’ll give it our best shot,” said the source.
According to the source, the party members also weighed in on the political situation ahead of the planned election, with many believing political groups would be persuaded to support Gen Prayut as prime minister.
The Democrats, however, will wait and see how the political situation develops after the election is over, said the source.
The country’s oldest political party has reportedly been in crisis in recent months following speculation that the now-defunct PDRC protest movement led by former Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban was seeking to set up a new party.
Signs that Mr Suthep might form a party to contest the election surfaced when the former protest leader demanded changes to the organic law on political parties to create a level playing field for small ones to compete in the national polls.
The prospect of a party led by Mr Suthep competing in elections created a sense of unease among Democrat Party members because the former PDRC and the party share a popular support base in the South, the Democrats’ stronghold. Fighting for the same slice of the pie would not help either of them.
This also came at the height of speculation about a military-backed party being established to support Gen Prayut to remain as prime minister after the election, which was originally slated for this November but now looks highly likely to be pushed back until at least February 2019.
However, the situation is likely to become more stable for the Democrats following the recent indictments of Mr Suthep and eight core party members for their roles in the street protests against the Yingluck government from late 2013 to May 2014 that later triggered the coup d’etat.
The group was indicted on eight charges including insurrection, criminal association, illegal assembly and obstructing elections, while Mr Suthep and Chumpol Julasai face an additional charge of terrorism.
According to political observers, the trial is likely to keep Mr Suthep busy and distract him from any political activities. This would also make several Democrats who may have been considering joining other parties, including those of the former PDRC, have second thoughts.