One of the 16 rebel Democrat MPs, who defied a party resolution by voting for Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin, has claimed that they did so because they wanted to find a “way out” for the country.

Chaichana Detdecho, a constituency MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat province, said that the group had not expected to catch “the last train” and be incorporated in the coalition government.

He claimed that some of them had returned to their constituencies, after the May 14^th general election, where the voters told them that they wanted a new government to be formed quickly, because more than three months had passed since the election.

He said that the group agreed that Srettha and the Pheu Thai party had promised not to touch the lèse majesté law and decided, at the last minute, to vote for Srettha, even though the Democrat party had resolved to abstain from voting.

The rebel MP said that he was fully aware of the consequences for defying a party resolution, but accepts the consequences, adding that the group is ready to explain their reasons to the party.

Chaichana also asked the media not to call them “cobras”, a derogatory epithet used in Thai politics.

Meanwhile, it is reported that acting Democrat party leader, Jurin Laksanawisit, has ordered the group to explain why they defied the resolution at the party’s next meeting, which is yet to be scheduled.

Jurin also said he has never assigned any party member to approach Pheu Thai for discussions about the possibility joining the coalition.

The party is divided about joining the coalition, with the majority of its MPs, led by former secretary-general, Chalermchai Sri-on, in favour.

The party won 24 seats in the House in the May 14^th election.