Dems unfazed by Suthep party

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was not worried if former protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former head of the defunct People’s Democrat Reform Committee (PDRC), sets up a new party and some former MPs defect to it.

He said it was their right to choose although none of his former MPs had resigned so far.

However, he said his party has a different stance to Mr Suthep, who had openly said he would support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to return as an outsider prime minister after the general election.

From Thursday, new political parties can begin their activities such as having a meeting if it is related to registering their party, according to the NCPO chief’s order.

There has been much talk of Mr Suthep planning to form a party to back Gen Prayut.

Mr Suthep and former PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan were not available for comment.

However, former Democrat MP Witthaya Kaewparadai, who was a core leader of the PDRC, said if a new party is to be set up, Mr Suthep is unlikely to accept the post of party leader or become a party executive considering that Mr Suthep has refused to accept any political office since the 2014 military coup.

However, Mr Witthaya did not confirm reports that certain former Democrat MPs would defect to Mr Suthep’s new party.

Mr Witthaya is the right-hand man of Mr Suthep, now chairman of the Muan Maha Prachachon for Reform Foundation — a reincarnation of the PDRC which spearheaded the anti-government demonstrations against the Pheu Thai administration in late 2013, culminating in the May 2014 coup.

He said Mr Suthep, as a leader of the movement aimed at pushing for national reform, has the right to support political parties.

He refused to confirm whether the group will support Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as a prime minister even after the election, but said it was likely.

Meanwhile, a source from the Democrat Party said the party was not worried that some former MPs would move to join Mr Suthep’s party.

Those who were long-time MPs representing the party would not want to run against the party’s candidates as the people in the South have strong loyalty to the party, the source said.

That would apply even in the event of a Suthep-backed party, he said.