The founder of the much-hyped Future Forward Party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, has met early resistance to his bid for cross-party opposition to an "outsider prime minister".
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) on Wednesday night, the 39-year-old former executive vice-president of auto parts manufacturer Thai Summit Group issued a call for politicians to oppose a so-called outsider PM, who they could agree on assuming their own candidates fail to win support in the House.
"Democracy does not equal rejecting an outsider PM or protesting against a military government, but it is a good start," he said.
"I would like to see a pledge [among parties] to restore democracy to this country. Once we [Future Forward] are allowed to conduct political activities, we will ask these pro-democracy parties to adopt this pledge," he added.
Leading Chartthaipattana Party figure, Varawut Sipla-archa, a former deputy transport minister and son of late former PM Banharn Silpa-archa, said Thursday he disagreed with Mr Thanathorn. According to him, the matter of whether politicians want an elected or outsider PM has been a "social trend" over many years.
"Our standpoint is to hold on to democratic principles, and the rules which have already been specified in the constitution," Mr Varawut, 44, said. "Rather than displaying an unclear stance, we will wait and propose the names of possible candidates come the elections."
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, contacted in Japan, said he also disagreed with Mr Thanathorn, accusing him of having an "attention-seeking" approach to politics. "While parties surely intend to appoint an elected PM, it is still too early to say who will be the next premier," he said.
"Each party has the right to its own policies, and parties therefore should not interfere with each others' affairs," he said. "Who does he think he is to ask everyone to agree to this pledge?" Mr Anutin added.
Key figures of the two major parties are more inclined to support Mr Thanathorn's stance. The Election Commission (EC) requires any party aiming to contest a general election to nominate a list of candidates they deem fit to take the post of prime minister. The names will be reduced to a single person after the elections.
The matter will only reach a joint meeting of MPs and senators if MPs fail to reach an agreement on who should become PM.
Pundits and analysts say this can pave the way for the selection of someone who isn't on the submitted lists, with many believing current PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has a high chance of regaining his post this way.
Self-proclaimed "New Democrat" Parit Wacharasindhu, the 25-year-old nephew of Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, said he would agree to adopt Mr Thanathorn's proposed pledge. "I believe it deceives the electorate to propose a prime minister whom no one might of heard of before casting their ballots," Mr Parit said.
"If I were ever given the opportunity to be a member of parliament, I would not put my hand up for an outsider PM, and I would fight my hardest to ensure the Democrats do not do so."
Pheu Thai's Chaturon Chaisang last month said the party will not support an outsider PM. However, he said he "wasn't surprised" that many parties might back Gen Prayut.
Mr Abhisit said this week that any party member looking to support Gen Prayut as PM should leave the party altogether. "If they support the Democrats, then they must support a party leader as prime minister," he said.
