Leaders of several small political parties have decided to start from scratch and form new ones to evade regulations requiring updated party membership information, which are seen as excessive and burdensome.
Under new rules, existing parties can begin their member registration process on April 1. The members are required to produce letters confirming their membership and pay party fees within 30 days of April 1 or lose their membership status.
The regulations, however, are seen as favourable to new political parties which have a month’s headstart. The registration process for new parties starts on March 1 and ends on March 31.
Phalang Khruekhai Prachachon leader, Krit-anong Suwanwong, said she has decided to let the party be dissolved, because it is easier than going through the membership status update process.
“It’s easier this way. We don’t have to contact all members and ask them to confirm their membership. We can take this opportunity to rebrand the party,” Ms Kritanong said.
She was one of almost 300 people who attended an Election Commission forum at the Government Complex yesterday to clarify procedures old and new political parties have to go through.
Former Pheu Thai MP, Sampan Lertnuwat said yesterday that he and other party colleagues plan to set up a new party called “Phalang Phonlamuang” but denied speculation it was to serve the regime’s political ambitions.
However, he said the new party would be open to the idea of nominating an outsider as prime minister if the House of Representatives fails to find one and as long as it was constitutional.
Chart Prachathippatai Kaona Party leader, Wichit Ditprasop, said he intends to let his party be dissolved too.
According to Mr Wichit, who is also secretary-general of the Prachathippatai Mai group, nine small parties are ready to merge and form a new one to contest the next general election.
In a separate development, the Democracy Restoration Group and the Start Up People group were set to gather at the Democracy Monument at 4pm today.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday approved arrest warrants for four protest leaders who twice failed to report to police to hear illegal assembly charges. The four are Arnon Nampa, Rangsiman Rome, Aekachai Hongkangwan and Sirawith Seritiwat.
Mr Arnon yesterday said he would be at today’s rally to demand an election.
Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, said he opposes five points in the organic bill on the elections of MPs and has sent his objections to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
One is a controversial section allowing political parties to stage entertainment activities during election campaigns. The Constitution Drafting Committee, which drafted the bill, also disagrees with this point.
Mr Somchai said he hopes the NLA will back down when the three agencies meet to iron out their differences.
