Following negative reaction online, Move Forward party has dropped Chart Pattana Kla party from its coalition, claiming that it is the wish of the people.
The party apologised in an official statement issued today (Saturday).
The party’s initial decision to accept Chart Pattana Kla party triggered an uproar on social media last night, particularly on Twitter, where the hashtags “Chart Pattana Kla” and “With Korn, Without Me” were in the top 5 trending hashtags in Thailand.
The Chart Pattana party was in the coalition government of incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. It later merged with Kla party to become Chart Pattana Kla, to contest the May 14th general election, with Korn Chatikavanij as its leader.
In the statement, the Move Forward party said, after the Chart Pattana Kla party accepted its invitation to join the coalition, Move Forward received widespread criticism from the public and party members.
The party’s newly-elected MPs resolved, at a meeting yesterday, that they cannot accept Chart Pattana Kla as a coalition partner, said the statement.
“The party’s executive committee accepted the resolution, that it will not include the Chart Pattana Kla party in the coalition government, and we will proceed with seeking support from senators in the vote for the prime minister, so we can form the government as soon as possible,” according to the statement.
[ พรรคก้าวไกลแถลงขอโทษปมพรรคชาติพัฒนากล้า ยืนยันฟังเสียงประชาชนไม่ร่วมรัฐบาลชาติพัฒนากล้า ]
สืบเนื่องจากกรณีที่พรรคก้าวไกล ได้เจรจากับพรรคชาติพัฒนากล้า เพื่อตกลงโหวตให้พิธา ลิ้มเจริญรัตน์ หัวหน้าพรรคก้าวไกล เป็นนายกรัฐมนตรี และเข้าร่วมรัฐบาล
กรณีดังกล่าว…
— พรรคก้าวไกล – Move Forward Party (@MFPThailand) May 19, 2023
Separately, Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat offered a public apology on Twitter. He said “I will always bear in mind that the party is more important than individuals, the people are more important than a party.”
ขอโทษครับ ผมจะระลึกไว้เสมอ "พรรคใหญ่กว่าคน ประชาชนใหญ่กว่าพรรค" https://t.co/Te67CjAWpb
— Pita Limjaroenrat (@Pita_MFP) May 19, 2023
The party’s deputy leader, Phicharn Chaowapatanawong, said yesterday that the Chart Pattana Kla party had decided to join the coalition and a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) had been sent to them for review and feedback.
Chart Pattana Kla’s chairman Suwat Liptapallop is scheduled to give a press conference at 5pm today, at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, about the party’s political position.
Earlier, he had said his party would support whichever party won the most House seats in the general election in forming a new government.
Move Forward won 152 constituency and party-list seats.
The potential coalition now includes Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Thai Liberal, Fair, Palang Sangkhom Mai and Pheu Thai Ruam Palang, Mai and Prachachart, which have a combined 314 seats in the House of Representatives.
In order for Pita to be approved as prime minister, he needs at least 376 votes in a combined vote of the Senate and the House.
