NEWS THINK
PRADIT RUANGDIT
The Monday vote for veteran politician Chai Chidchob as new House speaker reflects the powerful influence of his son Newin Chidchob in the ruling People Power party (PPP).
Mr Newin is a leader of the biggest faction in PPP despite the fact that he is among 111 Thai Rak Thai party executives banned from politics for five years following the party's dissolution due to election fraud.
Worried about Mr Chai's public image, some party factions opposed his nomination, but it went ahead regardless, especially after the party's behind-the-scenes boss, Thaksin Shinawatra, gave his approval.
Critics of Mr Chai included many PPP MPs in the Northeast, led by Nakhon Phanom MP Paijit Sriworakhan and Yasothon MP Pirapan Palusuk, and a group of the party MPs from the North.
They met Mr Thaksin at his residence on Charan Sanitwong Soi 69 to discuss their concerns about Mr Chai, a 79-year-old party-list MP for Buri Ram. Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung and Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat were also there.
Mr Thaksin told the MPs that Mr Newin had gone to jail for him. He wanted to stand by his father as candidate.
Earlier, a report emerged that Mr Thaksin preferred Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee for the post, but his choice was opposed by his wife Khunying Potjaman, who likes Mr Newin's approach to politics.
The MPs have not yielded to Mr Newin's group.
They are unhappy with the number of ministerial portfolios allocated to various party factions, and say the latest fuss only adds to their concerns. They are also grumbling about the financial support which went to factions at the December election.
They describe Mr Newin's approach to politics as aggressive, which could lead to social divisions and violence.
The faction disagrees with the way the law allows the public to participate in the charter amendment process.
During the PPP meeting on Sunday, many MPs spoke out against Mr Newin's approach, said Mr Pirapan.
"People are being used as political tools," one anti-Newin MP said. Politicians from Mr Newin's faction are working with the anti-coup United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), to gather voters' names in support of PPP's bid to amend the constitution.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Next
