Key Pheu Thai Party figure, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, has insisted the party would not be ready to work with Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha if he happens to stay in power after the election.

She was responding to questions whether it would be possible for Pheu Thai to work with a new coalition government led by Gen Prayut.

“No, we won’t be ready to do so because our political stance is that since our country is  democratic, we have to maintain democracy no matter how difficult that will be,” she said.

Khunying Sudarat is expected to emerge as the leader of Pheu Thai when the party selects the leader soon and will lead the party in the new general election next year.

Asked if she was concerned the party would be seen as being under ousted Thaksin Shinawatra’s influence as all three children of Thaksin had announced to become members of and fully support Pheu Thai, she said that shouldn’t be a problem because anyone has the right to make his or her political stance known.

Thaksin’s alleged influence over Pheu Thai has come under the spotlight because the organic law on political parties prohibits interference in a political party by an outsider.

Thaksin’s recent appearance in Hong Kong and his reported meetings with several Pheu Thai key figures have raised questions over his alleged influence on the party once again.

In separate development, Jatuporn Prompan, core leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) who now openly supports a new party, Pheu Chart Party, said the party plans to unveil well-known figures who will become candidates for the selection of the party leader at the party’s general assembly planned to be held next month at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus.