Chart Thai Pattana remains with the government

The Chart Thai Pattana party has decided remain in the government coalition, while United Thai Nation remains hesitant, pending the outcome of a discussion between its party leader and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Chart Thai Pattana leader, Varawut Silpa-archa, told a press conference that the party’s executive committee and 10 MPs met this evening to decide whether they should withdraw from or stay in the governing coalition.

After about two hours of debate, he said all the participants agreed that there was insufficient information for the party to make a decision now and that they had only learned the details of the conversation, between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, under than 24 hours ago.

Varawut also said that he has not yet spoken with Paetongtarn about the controversy, adding that the most important issue now is national security and Thai sovereignty.

The executive committee and the MPs agreed that the party should support the government at this critical moment, so it can build stability and resist the security threat.

United Thai Nation leader, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, also energy minister, told the media that the party’s MPs and executive committee members, minus the renegade faction, met this evening to discuss their stance vis-à-vis the controversial conversation.

He declined to disclose the meeting’s outcome, adding that he will discuss it with the prime minister first.

An informed party source said, however, that they would have no objection to Paetongtarn being replaced by Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former Pheu Thai party prime ministerial candidate.

Democrat party leader, Chalermchai Srion, told the media, before the executive committee’s meeting this evening, that he will let the committee decide whether they should remain in the coalition.