Photo: Paibul Nititawan
The Palang Pracharath party has renewed its effort to convince the Pheu Thai party to include it in the governing coalition, stating that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra could be accused of lacking “evident integrity” by not keeping her promise to retain its party in the coalition.
Speaking at a press conference, held after a meeting of the executive committee of the Palang Pracharath party this morning, Paibul Nititawan, a deputy leader, said that its problem has nothing to do with the Pheu Thai party per se, but directly concerns Prime Minister Paetongtarn, the party’s leader.
He claimed that all 40 Palang Pracharath MPs, except party leader General Prawit Wongsuwan, voted in support of Paetongtarn’s prime ministerial candidacy, as promised.
As such, it is an obligation for the prime minister to respond in kind by including the Palang Pracharath party in the coalition, said Paibul, citing Section 362 of the Civil Code.
Paibul claimed that he does not mean to threaten the prime minister, but he referred to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on August 14, which found then prime minister Srettha Thavisin guilty of lacking “evident integrity” by appointing Phichit Chuenban, a former convict, as PM office minister.
He also said that Palang Pracharath does not intend to put pressure on the prime minister, adding that the party is ready to assume its role in opposition.
Paibul stressed that he is more concerned over the stability of the Pheu Thai-led government, saying that he wonders how long it will last if its inception is plagued by troubles.
Regarding the rebel faction, led by Thammanat Prompao, Paibul said the party will not expel the faction because “we are in the same family.”
