Democrat party deputy leader Alongkorn Polaboot has hit back at Pheu Thai party election strategy chief, Sudarat Keyuraphan, after she accused the Democrat party of betraying the trust of the people by “mutating and cohabiting with the dictatorship”.

In her Facebook post on Saturday night, after Democrat party chief advisor Chuan Leekpai was elected the House speaker, Khunying Sudarat also posted a drawing of former party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva kissing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

“Today, the oldest party, which used to be democratic, has mutated and cohabits with the dictatorship. Power smells so good that some parties were willing to break their promises to the people; but the people will remember.  As far as we are concerned, we will definitely never betray the people,” read Khunying Sudarat’s online message.

In response, Alongkorn rebuked Sudarat, accusing her of being unfair, using inappropriate language and image and lacking spirit.

He said that she should have congratulated Mr. Chuan for winning the vote in the House and should have respect for the decision of the parties, despite their political differences.

The Democrat deputy leader insisted that the party’s stance on democracy remains unchanged by placing utmost importance on the interests of the country and the people, before the interests of the party.

He claimed that, in the 73 years of its history, the Democrat party has never betrayed the trust of the people, a fact proven by the party being the oldest in the country and it has become an institution.

Alongkorn said the decision whether a party should join a government, no matter which camp, is the legitimate right of individual parties.