The Democrat Party has formally decided to join a new coalition government being formed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra despite opposition from many of its senior members.
The decision was made in a meeting this evening of members of the party’s executive committee and MPs.
Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai Party invited the Democrat to be part of its coalition after kicking out its former ally Palang Pracharath. Pheu Thai extended a formal invitation for the country’s oldest party to join its coalition on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, party’s secretary general Det-it Khaothong said the party needed to look forward and forget past animosity between the two parties.
“We need to have courage for change,” he said.
The two parties have a long history of hostilities and have been rivals in past elections. But the new Democrat leadership has been taking a more friendly approach toward its erstwhile adversary.
Former Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai, however, reiterated his objection to the party’s joining the coalition as it would undermine support it has among constituents in the southern region which has been its political stronghold.
Several other senior members of the party have also raised similar objection and some have already resigned in protest.
