Political veteran Pichai urges parties to ‘team up to bring back democracy’
Pichai Rattakul, former leader of the Democrat Party, on Tuesday said he did not believe a national election would be held this year and that he wanted to see political parties team up to bring back democracy rather than joining forces with the military.
He also stressed that he knew of no one in the Democrat Party wanting the party to join hands with the military to form a government after the election, which the prime minister has scheduled to be held in November.
The 91-year-old veteran politician said he did not think he would have the chance to see the return of democracy in his lifetime.
Given the Constitution and the 250 junta-appointed Senate members, it seems that those in power want to continue their rule, he added.
“There is no way political parties could fight [such against entrenched interests] unless they join forces to do so,” Pichai said.
“It is difficult because the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have had a painful history together, but they have no [choice but to put their differences aside]. Otherwise, there’s no way to win under these rules and form a government,” he stressed.