The ruling Palang Pracharath party has been reaching out to members of the opposition as well as MPs of their coalition allies to tempt them into defecting and switching allegiances, several sources told Thai Enquirer on Wednesday.
According to a senior source within the Pheu Thai Party, instability within the opposition parties and the coalition partners represent an opportunity for the ruling party to add to their numbers.
“We know some of the instability in our party is because informal talks have taken place between the Palang Pracharath and our MPs temping them to switch sides,” the source said on condition of anonymity. “Obviously there is some monetary reward involved.”
The source, a former MP with Phue Thai, claimed that the ruling party has already earmarked some of the 1.9 trillion baht coronavirus relief measures to be used to lure wantaway MPs.
The claim could not be corroborated by Thai Enquirer and several members of Palang Pracharath rejected the claim, calling it slander.
Instability in the ruling coalition
However, Thai Enquirer can confirm that Palang Pracharath has held informal talks with MPs from both the opposition and among its allies. Part of the reason that Palang Pracharath has been reaching out to the opposition is that insiders within the party feel unsure that the current coalition will last.
Reports from inside the Democrat party camp suggests that the coalition ally could face a leadership contest before long. Local media have reported over the last fortnight that many MPs were ready to test the leadership of party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit by quitting from the executive council and forcing a leadership contest.
Wantaway factions within the Democrat Party itself could also jump ship and join up with former party stalwarts Suthep Thaugsuban and Korn Chatikavanij who have started their own parties.
The Democrat Party has also proved to be unreliable partners and several MPs have continued to attack their coalition partners, according to Deputy Party Leader Paibul Nititawan.
“They have a faction of MPs who have been against us since the start, that didn’t want to join the coalition,” he said. “These people are against the rule of Prime Minister Prayut [Chan-ocha].”
The Democrat Party is also not the only coalition partner to come under increasing pressure from within.
On Tuesday, Minister of Labour Chatumongol Sonakul resigned from his post as leader of the Action Coalition for Thailand Party throwing the party into chaos between those that support the labour minister and those that support party founder Suthep Thaugsuban.
Supporters of Suthep inside the party have disapproved of Chatumongol’s performance as party leader and labour minister and see a different vision for the party going forward.
Chatumongol told the press that the party was ordering him too much and if they really wanted him as a leader they would listen to his guidance more.
Forced hand
Due to the infighting in their coalition allies, party leaders within Palang Pracharath felt it was necessary to reach out to MPs both within coalition parties and the opposition camp to shore up their numbers should the coalition break apart.
“We don’t know what will happen with the coalition, even our party is facing a leadership struggle, so of course we talk to everyone to see if they want to join,” said a senior Palang Pracharath member who asked not to be named.
