People’s Party to decide tomorrow on PM candidate

Executive board members and MPs of the People's Party will meet tomorrow to discuss and conclude whom they will support as the next prime minister, said the party’s leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut today.

Natthaphong stressed that its 143 votes in the House will be used to help resolve the country’s political deadlock, not to bargain for Cabinet portfolios.

The Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties are racing to woo Natthaphong’s party to vote for their candidates, Chaikasem Nitisiri and Anutin Charnvirakul respectively, as the next prime minister, after Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ousted by the Constitutional Court on Friday.

Her Cabinet members were also removed from office under the court’s ruling.

Natthaphong dismissed reports that the party had struck a deal to support Bhumjaithai leader Anutin as prime minister in exchange for eight Cabinet posts.

“There is no deal. Our objective is to use our votes to break the deadlock without joining the government. We will not engage in any backroom negotiations or informal approaches,” he said.

One of the conditions set by the People’s Party is that the new prime minister must dissolve the House within four months of giving his formal policy statement in Parliament.

Natthaphong added that the People's Party is yet to choose a candidate.

He emphasised that only official proposals made directly to himself or the party’s executive board would be considered, saying that rumours of secret talks were aimed at gaining an advantage in government formation.

“What matters most are official announcements, not rumours,” he said.

He explained that the party’s terms of reference have already been made public and any party unable to secure a majority on its own, thus needing the People's Party’s support, must accept its conditions.

These conditions, he said, are designed to ensure transparency, legitimacy and a clear path to returning power to the people through fresh elections.

Natthaphong also stated that his party will not support former prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha under any circumstances. “If Gen Prayut’s name is put forward, we definitely could not vote for him,” he said.

As for the meeting with Bhumjaithai on August 29, Natthapong described it as a respectful exchange between politicians.

Pheu Thai will hold a meeting with the People's Party this afternoon, in an attempt to convince its MPs to support Chaikasem as prime minister.