Pheu Thai party’s chief election strategist Sudarat Keyuraphan has questioned the credibility of the selection of 194 senators by the military junta, officially called the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
She pointed out that a large group of active and retired military officers, closely linked to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, were among the 400 shortlisted candidates and most of them may well become senators.
“This is unfair,” she said, adding that the mixed election/selection process for senators has cost the taxpayer an enormous amount of money, but may still end with a large number of active and retired generals becoming senators.
She said that the March 24thelection, in reality, will be a contest between two political camps – one supporting Prime Minister Prayut and the other opposing Prayut’s attempt to cling onto power. She urged supporters of the disbanded Thai Raksa Chart party to vote for parties which oppose PM Prayut.
Bhumjai Thak party leader Anuthin Charnveerakul announced today that the party has not aligned itself with either of the two political camps adding “We respect democratic rule and we are neutral and reject political conflict. We stand on the side of the people and will work for the good of the people.”
The party’s chief advisor Sora-ath Klinprathum said that the party understands the impact of political division and would not get itself engaged in the conflict adding, without naming names, “We stand in the middle. We speak the truth and we do it in earnest, unlike some parties which have disavowed conflict but, finally, have engaged themselves in the conflict.”
