On Monday, the Election Commission (EC) officially confirmed that the People’s Party (PP)—the recent reincarnation of the disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP)—has set up the necessary party branches to comply with legal requirements. This announcement came fast on the heels of Thai Pakdee Party leader Warong Dechgitvigrom’s statement that he would be filing a petition against the PP, based on claims regarding its predecessor, Thin Kakao Chaovilai, failing to register enough branches.
Following the Constitutional Court’s dissolution of Move Forward last Wednesday for undermining the constitutional monarchy, the party’s members quickly took over Thin Kakao Chaovilai. They renamed it People’s Power and officially launched it on Friday, marking a new chapter in their political journey.
Dr. Warong has asserted that Thin Kakao Chaovilai had only registered two branches in the North and one in the Central Plains region, but failed to establish any presence in the South or Northeast. According to him, a political party legally ceases to exist if it does not maintain at least one branch in each of the four regions for a continuous period of one year, as required by law.
Responding to these claims, EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee clarified that Thin Kakao Chaovilai had indeed registered all its branches as required by law. He stated that, “Officials are dispatched to observe the proceedings whenever a party branch is established. Once the meeting to register a branch concludes, the establishment is considered complete and legally binding.”
Mr. Sawaeng elaborated that the process must be officially reported to the political party registrar, who ensures compliance with the law. He mentioned that although the establishment of the party branches is complete, it has yet to be officially acknowledged in the EC’s database.
As part of their ongoing efforts, the PP is currently in the process of establishing a branch in Phitsanulok. Once this branch is fully operational, the PP plans to field a candidate to contest an upcoming by-election. This election is necessary to replace former deputy House speaker Padipat Santipada, who was banned from politics following the dissolution of Move Forward.
Phakhaon Noon-anant, a PP list-MP, confidently stated that the party now has branches in every region and urged Dr. Warong to verify his information before taking any further action. She even threw down the gauntlet, challenging Dr. Warong, a former MP for Phitsanulok, to participate in the by-election to test his current level of voter support.
In a social media update on Monday, Dr. Warong confirmed his intentions to file the petition with the EC, aiming for a submission on Wednesday. He emphasized, “We’re not talking about the present situation. The EC must investigate whether the Thin Kakao Chaovilai Party had branches in every region for at least one year by the time it was taken over.”
I don’t trust anything involving the People’s Party. They’re just a rebrand of a disbanded group found guilty of serious constitutional breaches.
That’s a harsh stance. They may have learned from their mistakes. Besides, the EC confirmed their compliance.
JohnL, you can trust them if you want, but I believe past behavior is a predictor of future actions. We’ll see how they perform.
Alice, it’s called giving people second chances. How do you expect them to improve if they are never given the chance?
Dr. Warong’s allegations seem politically motivated. He just wants to disrupt the new party’s efforts.
Agreed. It’s a power struggle. Politicians often resort to such tactics to maintain their influence.
Are you guys seriously defending a party that was just disbanded for undermining the constitutional monarchy? This is not a petty issue.
I’m not defending them. I’m just saying that Dr. Warong has his own agenda.
But BigKev has a point. These issues can’t just be overlooked. Due process should be followed.
What really matters is whether the branches are genuinely operational or just on paper. The EC should conduct thorough inspections.
Exactly, they might just be ticking boxes without any real political activity.
Inspections? Good luck with that! Corruption is rife in these processes.
Does it really matter which party is in power? All politicians are the same, only out for themselves.
That’s a very cynical view, DannyBoy. Some politicians genuinely care for the public’s welfare.
DannyBoy, while I agree that many are self-serving, there are still some who work hard for the people.
Maybe, but it’s hard to see the good ones in the sea of corruption.
If Thin Kakao Chaovilai had the branches initially, why wasn’t it reflected in the EC’s database? This looks fishy.
VirginiaS, bureaucracy moves slowly. There might be a lag in updating the database.
Or it’s intentional to keep things ambiguous. Easier to manipulate the narrative that way.
Political fights are so confusing. I just hope whoever wins will do something about the economy.
Can someone explain why it’s such a big deal to have branches in every region? I’m new to following politics.
Kayla, having branches in every region ensures nationwide representation and compliance with legal standards.
Thanks, Theo. That makes sense. It’s about ensuring everyone’s voice is heard.
The People’s Party should focus on gaining the trust of the people instead of countering Warong’s claims.
The EC’s role is crucial here. They must ensure transparency and fairness in the process.
Lena, the EC often falls short in ensuring transparency. They need to be more stringent.
If Dr. Warong is so confident in his claims, why not face the People’s Party in the by-election? His hesitance is telling.
TommyJ, maybe because he knows it’s easier to attack than to face the electorate and possibly lose.
Exactly, Samuel. Warong’s actions speak louder than his words.
I’m skeptical of all this political maneuvering. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
Interesting to see how this will play out in Phitsanulok. It’s going to be a litmus test for the PP’s new setup.
Phitsanulok will indeed be an important indicator of their current support.
Just another day in Thai politics. I’m more concerned about the bigger issues facing the country.
If the EC confirms compliance, what more does Warong want? It’s like he’s grasping at straws.
Politicians always look for ways to destabilize their opponents. Warong is just playing his part.
I just hope the new party isn’t a repeat of the disbanded one. They should really prove themselves this time.
Molly, they have a lot to prove. People will be watching their every move.
They changed their name, but will they change their ways? Only time will tell.
Mark_W, change is often slow in political entities. Let’s hope it’s genuine.