Pheu Thai members attend events
Pheu Thai Party members on Wednesday attended two “cheerful” gatherings amid increasing political heat as the ruling junta persuaded politicians from various camps to work with it.
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan opened her house in Bangkok’s Ladplakao district to receive well-wishers from over 20 Pheu Thai politicians and residents to mark the end of Songkran.
“Please succeed in whatever you do, be loved by people and be popular,” Sudarat said to the ex-MPs during the wishing. “I wish you become MPs and even ministers after the next election.”
Former minister Watana Muangsook, who also visited Sudarat’s house, vowed that the party would not join hands with the junta and supporting parties despite recent cooperation with the Palang Chon party.
The party’s leader Sontaya Kunplome and his brother Ittthiphol were appointed to advise the prime minister and a minister on Tuesday. Democrat ex-MP Sakoltee Phattiyakul was also appointed as deputy Bangkok governor last week.
“There would be no effect to the Pheu Thai Party as we have different bases from Palang Chon,” Watana said “But if we win the election but cannot form the government because pro-junta parties do not support us, we’ll be ready to be the opposition.”
In Nakhon Pathom, meanwhile, ex-PM Somchai Wongsawat, the party’s secretary-general Phumtham Wecheyachai and former minister Varathep Ratanakorn led around a dozen Pheu Thai politicians to a gold course owned by the Sasomsab political clan.
“We didn’t know about their arrival in advance. We just knew that some VIP guests would come,” Anucha Sasomsub told reporters “Our golf course is so fine, everyone wants to have a swing here.”
Somchai, unlike Watana, refused to make political comments. “I’m just the party’s ex-member who just requested to reaffirm my membership. It doesn’t mean that I’ll have to be politically active afterward.”