Don’t take bait, MFP warns PT

Pheu Thai leader Dr Cholnan Srikaew, left, is with Move Forward Leader Pita Limjaroenrat after a meeting of eight coalition parties at the MFP headquarters in Bangkok on July 2. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
Pheu Thai leader Dr Cholnan Srikaew, left, is with Move Forward Leader Pita Limjaroenrat after a meeting of eight coalition parties at the MFP headquarters in Bangkok on July 2. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

The Move Forward Party (MFP) has urged Pheu Thai (PT) to reverse its decision to end their political alliance, initially made for them to work together in forming a new coalition government.

In a Facebook post intended for Pheu Thai, MFP list-MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn referred to Pheu Thai as a friend who was being lured by the conservative camp.

“Mate, don’t ever get in a car with them. They will trick you into travelling to the mountain top where you will eventually be gunned down. Run away and return to the ship real quick. We’re waiting for you here,” he wrote.

When the MFP and Pheu Thai were together in the eight-party alliance, they together had 312 MP seats in hand, while the conservative camp only has 188 MPs, said Mr Wiroj.

And even if counting altogether only the number of MFP and Pheu Thai MPs, the total number of MPs the two parties had together still was as high as 292, meaning they would have a better chance to win over the conservative side, he said.

And even though MFP and Pheu Thai might find it hard to win a prime ministerial vote needing substantial support from the Senate, the two parties would still have strength to battle the conservative camp in parliament if they remain united, he said.

Mr Wiroj said he believed Pheu Thai must have been offered a persuasive deal before they decided to go their own way last Wednesday.

Now that Pheu Thai and the MFP are apart, Pheu Thai should be aware that it only has 141 MPs in hand while the conservative camp has 188 MPs, said Mr Wiroj.

That leaves the door open for the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) to become a part of the Pheu Thai-led coalition, particularly due to their influence over some senators, he said.

“Don’t they ever wonder whether the mountaintop which they are being taken to is actually an execution ground?” asked Mr Wiroj.

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Vocabulary

  • alliance: a coalition; an arrangement to work together - พันธมิตร
  • bait: something that is offered in order to persuade someone to do something or buy something - สิ่งล่อใจ
  • camp: a group of people who have the same ideas about something and oppose people with other ideas -
  • coalition: a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together - พรรคร่วมรัฐบาล
  • conservative: opposed to great or sudden social change; showing that you prefer traditional styles and values - ที่เป็นอนุรักษ์นิยม
  • execution (noun): the act of killing somebody, especially as a legal punishment; capital punishment - การประหารชีวิต
  • influence: the power to have an effect on people or things - อิทธิพล
  • intended: planned; wanted to happen - ที่ได้วางแผนไว้ ที่ตั้งใจให้เกิดขึ้น
  • lure: to attract someone/something - ล่อใจ, หลอกล่อ, ยั่วยวน
  • persuasive: making you want to do or believe a particular thing - สามารถชักจูงได้
  • seat: a position in a committee, group or organization -
  • Senate: one of the two groups of politicians who make laws in some countries, for example in the US, Australia, Canada and Thailand - วุฒิสภา
  • substantial: strong; solid - แข็งแรง, แน่นหนา, เป็นจริง
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