An informed Democrat Party source said that they are still split, with one faction led by party secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on, which wants to join the Palang Pracharat-led group, and the other, comprising mainly old guard including party advisory chief Chuan Leekpai, former party leaders Abhisit Vejjajiva and Banyat Bantadtan and the so-called “New Dems”, favoring being an independent opposition.

The source claimed that Mr. Chalermchai had met privately with current Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan to discuss the possibility of the Democrats joining the Palang Pracharat camp.

Those who oppose joining the Palang Pracharat coalition believe that the party will suffer further damage for not sticking to its stated political ideology and the party will not be able to implement its policies because the key ministries would be controlled by the Palang Pracharat party.

The coalition government may also be short-lived because it will have a slim majority in the House with only an 8-vote margin, which will be further reduced by 1 or 2 votes if the Future Forward party wins the election re-run in Chiang Mai’s Constituency 8. Another vote will be lost because, to maintain impartiality, the House Speaker cannot vote.

The Democrat Party has not yet set the date for a joint meeting of its executive committee and MPs to discuss whether the party should join the Palang Pracharat-led coalition, party spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng told the media today.

He added, however, that the executive committee will meet tomorrow afternoon (Monday) to delegate work to the party’s deputy leaders, the secretary-general and deputy secretaries-general and to form various working committees.

A meeting of the party’s MPs has been scheduled for Monday for the exchange of opinions on various issues of importance and to brief new MPs on roles in parliament, whether the party is in government or in opposition.