"former MPs"

THE NEWLY-FORMED, pro-junta Palang Pracharat Party is pulling in more and more former MPs and government ministers, as well as celebrities.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has dismissed speculation that at least a dozen former MPs from his party are going to join a new political group that is pro-junta.

At least 24 former MPs and senators in the North and Northeast have “shown their interest” in joining a pro-junta political party, according to a source familiar with the matter.

DEPUTY Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak yesterday hit back at unnamed politicians for accusing people in power of wooing as many former MPs as possible into a new political party being formed to support the junta chief’s return as prime minister.

Former MP Wiwattanachai Na Kalasin on Monday told Nation TV about how a group of some 50 former members of Parliament had gathered at a hotel in Bangkok on Saturday night, before dispersing following a bomb scare about which they were alerted by security officers.

FORMER members of parliament have said parliamentary budgets for foreign trips are still required but there should be clear guidelines to ensure the trips are productive and contribute to public interest.