Klatham and Democrats coy on status

No approaches from coalition, but parties not ready to confirm they will be in opposition

Both the Klatham and Democrat parties have stopped short of declaring themselves opposition parties, saying they will wait for greater clarity on coalition negotiations before deciding their stance.

Klatham Party chief adviser Thamanat Prompow and party leader Narumon Pinyosinwat on Friday led the party’s MPs to report to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

After the registration, Thamanat said he had not spoken with anyone about coalition arrangements since returning from overseas.

Asked whether Klatham should now be considered an opposition party, he said the situation remained unclear.

“At the moment, we are not the core party forming the government, so we must give full respect to the leading party,” he said, referring to Bhumjaithai. “That is political etiquette.”

Thamanat said the absence of Klatham figures from early cabinet line-up speculation did not concern him, noting that he has experienced various roles during his seven years in politics.

Responding to rumours of MPs defecting to support Bhumjaithai, Thamanat dismissed the claims as political speculation meant to sow confusion.

He said Klatham’s 56 constituency MP seats had been hard won and warned that any lawmaker who defected would be seen as betraying the voters.

Thamanat also downplayed speculation about strained relations with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, saying he holds no grudge and had no conflict with the Bhumjaithai leader.

Meanwhile, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, said his party had not received any formal invitation to join the government but had not ruled out the possibility.

He described the party’s position as a matter of political courtesy, noting that Bhumjaithai was already aware of the Democrats’ conditions for joining a coalition.

Among the commitments the party made to voters during the election campaign was that it would not serve in any government that included the Klatham Party, given the later’s image problems.

Any decision on the party’s stance would ultimately be made by the party executive committee, Mr Abhisit said, adding that Thailand should form a fully empowered government as soon as possible to deal with the uncertain global situation.