Former minister of social development and human development Varawut Silpa-archa said today that he is still committed to staying with Chart Thai Pattana Party amid rumour he has been approached to be one of Pheu Thai Party’s potential prime ministerial candidates in the next election.
However, he said the future course of the party depends on its executives and MPs.
Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra said earlier this week that her party will soon unveil three candidates as Thailand’s next prime minister.
But when asked whether Varawut would be one of them, Somsak Thepsuthin, a key member of the Pheu Thai party, said that it was too early for the party to choose its candidates for the prime minister’s post.
He admitted, though, that Varawut is a young politician representing the new generation, is popular, of good character and is interesting, adding the party is open to outsiders as the party’s prime ministerial candidates.
Political parties have the option under the Political Parties Act to name up to three prime ministerial candidates when they apply to contest a general election.
Varawut admitted that some of his party’s members are being wooed by other major political parties.
“The unity of our 10 MPs is the most important,” Varawut told Thai PBS World, referring to media speculation that he and his party’s MPs will join Pheu Thai Party.
Chart Thai Pattana was a junior partner in the government of prime minister Paetongtarn who was ousted from office by the Constitutional Court in late August.
