People party is now the successor to the Move Forward party

The now defunct Move Forward party will officially unveil its new incarnation, named the Prachachon (People) party, its new party executive committee and new leader at its head office this afternoon.

Core former members of the disbanded Move Forward party and remaining MPs held an urgent meeting last night to discuss the selection of a new leader, to replace Chaithawat Tulathon who, along with the ten other Move Forward executive committee members, was debarred from politics for ten years by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.

Move Forward former deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul and former deputy secretary-general Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, were nominated, with Natthaphong being elected.

An informed party source said that most MPs and core party members chose Natthaphong because he is competent, has good relationships with other MPs in the party and, more importantly, is closely connected with Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, former leader of the now defunct Future Forward party, predecessor of the Move Forward party, and is now the leader of the Progressive movement.

All 143 MPs except one had signed their applications to move to a temporary home, called ‘Thin Ka Khao Chao Wilai’, before moving to the People party.

The source also explained that the MPs and core party members acted swiftly to find a new party for the MPs, because they are concerned that, if the process takes too long, some of their MPs may be lured by other parties.

The People party is not a new party though. It was originally registered in 1983, under the name of ‘Rak Thai’, before it was renamed Prachachon four years later.

In 1988, a group of Democrats, led by Chalermbhand Srivikorn, the former secretary-general, and his wife, Khunying Sasima, defected to the Prachachon party. Chalermbhand became the party leader, with Veera Musikapong as the secretary-general. Other key members of the party included Kraisorn Tantipong, Lert Hong Pakdee, Anan Chaisaeng, Thawil Praisont, Samphan Lertnuwat and Krit Pongpetch.

The Prachachon party won 19 seats in the 1988 general election, mostly in constituencies in the southern region, which was traditionally dominated by the Democrats. The party decided to disband in 1989 to merge with the Ruam Thai party.

The source went on to say that former Democrat MP Thawil Praisont, who joined the Move Forward party as an advisor, may have been instrumental in acquiring the name Prachachon as a new party for former Move Forward MPs.