Ramate Rattanachaweng, a former spokesman for the Democrat Party, sent waves through the political landscape yesterday by hitting back at Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Her remarks insinuated that she could never reconcile with the allegedly wrongful actions of some former Democrat executives against her party. Ramate countered pointedly, “Let me ask [her], has there been any former Democrat Party leader who was jailed for corruption? Have any of them fled the country to dodge a corruption sentence?”
The prime minister’s comment came amid growing frustration from her political allies in the Pheu Thai Party, particularly the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). They were visibly upset over Pheu Thai’s decision to form an alliance with the Democrat Party.
Ms. Paetongtarn clarified that despite the two parties joining forces in the new coalition government, Pheu Thai could never truly accept the perceived injustices perpetrated by the Democrats in the past. She reflected on a particularly sore point—the Democrat-led regime’s forceful dispersal of political protesters, largely UDD supporters, following the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra in a military coup on May 22, 2014.
Ramate struck back, accusing Pheu Thai of spinning false narratives about Abhisit Vejjajiva’s role in the violent dispersal of protesters. Abhisit, a former Democrat leader and prime minister, was unfairly blamed, Ramate argued, noting that the protests were not as peaceful or legal as often portrayed.
In a bid to shift the narrative, Ms. Paetongtarn emphasized that the Democrat Party has undergone significant changes over the past decade. With a new executive lineup, the Pheu Thai-led government needs stability, which, she suggested, the Democrats could help bolster with their MPs. She likened this coalition to a country resuming trade relations with another after the latter transitioned from a dictatorship to a democracy. “That’s a way of looking forward to a new future,” she optimistically declared.
However, Ramate was quick to highlight internal dissent within the Democrat Party regarding the coalition. Although most Democrat executives supported the decision to join Pheu Thai, many members, including former MPs and cabinet ministers, remain unconvinced. “These supporters stay loyal to the party still because they have faith in the integrity and the goodness the party has maintained in the past,” he noted.
This fascinating political drama unfolds against a backdrop of shifting allegiances and underlying tensions. Only time will tell whether this new coalition can navigate the choppy waters of Thai politics and sail towards a “new future” as optimistically envisioned by Ms. Paetongtarn.
This is nothing more than political posturing. Both parties have skeletons in their closets. The real victims are the people.
Exactly! What about all the corruption cases against Pheu Thai? It’s hypocritical!
The problem is systemic. No party can claim to be fully clean.
And yet, voters keep getting caught in this mess, hoping for real change.
It’s the very nature of politics. Promising change while preserving the status quo.
And now we see why people are disillusioned with politics. Nothing ever really changes, does it?
True that! I stopped caring, politicians just do what’s best for them.
Just waiting for the next scandal to break. Seems like we are always going in circles.
You said it. Same old story every time.
Coalitions like these are never built on trust. It’s all about power and influence.
Agreed. As soon as one side feels slighted, it’s going to collapse.
And when that happens, we will be right back where we started. Frustrating!
Ramate’s comments are just stirring the pot. We should focus on how to really address these issues.
Politics is straight-up theater at this point. Who cares who said what?
It may seem like theater, but real lives are impacted by these decisions.
Sure, but they act like it’s a game. It’s hard to take any of it seriously.
I feel like we’re watching a broken record. Aren’t we tired of the same political drama?
Absolutely. It’s exhausting.
The real issue is whether this coalition can govern effectively. Criticisms won’t matter if they can’t get anything done.
Track records suggest they will struggle. Too many conflicting interests.
True, but necessity can sometimes force cooperation. Who knows?
This coalition is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s only a matter of time before it falls apart.
Rather than focusing on the past, they should all be finding ways to move forward.
It’s ironic how politicians who criticize each other end up forming alliances. Hypocrisy at its finest.
Politics makes strange bedfellows. Nothing new here.
It’s still disappointing to see.
What do we expect from these people? They’ve been failing us for years.
True. This cycle of blaming and forming coalitions has become a joke.
Let’s give them a chance. This friction might lead to meaningful change.
I’ll believe that when I see it.
Anyone who believes these political elites care about the common people is naive.
Pheu Thai have their own issues. Joining forces with Democrats won’t solve them.