Rebel MPs in United Thai Nation party vow support for PM

The rebel faction in the United Thai Nation party, known as “Group 18”, has announced that it will support Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in defiance of the party’s executive committee’s proposal for her replacement by Chaikasem Nitisiri, a previous Pheu Thai party prime ministerial candidate.

The executive committee, chaired by party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, met yesterday, in the absence of “Group 18”, which is led by Suchart Chomklin, currently the deputy commerce minister.

The committee has assigned Pirapan to inform the prime minister of its proposal that she should be replaced by Chaikasem.

A member of “Group 18” said that they disagree with the executive committee’s decision, claiming that the misunderstanding between the Thai army and the prime minister, over the leaked controversial conversation between her and Hun Sen, has already been settled, so there is no need for her to step down.

The party is reluctant to expel the group, fearing that its bargaining power with the Pheu Thai party would be affected. The rebel MPs do not want to quit the party either, for fear that they would lose their parliamentary status.