Democrat ‘officially distances’ itself from Sukhumbhand
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The Democrat Party Thursday announced that it has officially distanced itself from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra who has been embroiled in scandals of irregularities related to BMA projects.
Democrat secretary general Juti Krairirk and Democrat deputy leader Ong-arj Klampaibool held a press conference to announce the stand of the party’s executive board to distance itself from Sukhumbhand.
The move was seen as a step next to the expulsion of Sukhumbhand from the party. The party is prohibited by an order of the National Council for Peace and Order from holding party meetings so it cannot officially expel Sukhumbhand.
The BMA governor has been hit with a series of scandals related to alleged irregularities in BMA projects.
Juti said the Democrat has been unable to coordinate with Sukhumbhand over the works of the BMA for over three months. Juti said the party’s regulations required the party’s administrators of local governments to listen to party’s policies.
Sukhumbhand was required by the regulations to work with the party to create public confidence and to ensure that the works of the BMA would be efficient and transparent and accountable, Juti said.
Since the party could not coordinate with the BMA governor in line with the policies, the party would have to be responsible for every single vote that was given to Sukhumbhand, the Democrat candidate in the gubernatorial election, the secretary general added.
“As a result, from now on the administration of the BMA will be regarded as being carried out by Sukhumbhand on his own because the party cannot use its system and mechanism to support and monitor the works of the BMA,” Juti said.
“The party now left it open for the BMA governor to make his own decision because it’s now time he must be responsible for his own works.”
Ong-arj said Sukhumbhand was not the first case in conflicts between the party and its local politicians. Ong-arj said the Democrat used to expel Pipat Lapprathana, Bank Rak councillor, as a party member for violating the party’s resolution.
He said the party could not convene a meeting so it had to announce its stand on Sukhumbhand publicly.
