Chaturon moves from Pheu Thai to Thai Raksa Chart

Chaturon moves from Pheu Thai to Thai Raksa Chart

Chaturon Chaisaeng shows his letter of resignation from the Pheu Thai Party on Monday, and he later joined Thai Raksa Chart, seen as a sister party to Pheu Thai. (Photo by Aekkaratch Sattaburuth)
Chaturon Chaisaeng shows his letter of resignation from the Pheu Thai Party on Monday, and he later joined Thai Raksa Chart, seen as a sister party to Pheu Thai. (Photo by Aekkaratch Sattaburuth)

Chaturon Chaisaeng departed from the Pheu Thai Party on good terms on Monday to join the Thak Raksa Chart Party (TRCP) and avoid what he called a "constitutional trap" designed by the regime to prevent any single party from dominating parliament.

The veteran politician met Pheu Thai leader Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in to tender his resignation and officially inform him of his decision to join the new party. His departure from Pheu Thai was "amicable", he said.

Mr Chaturon later appeared at the TRCP offices with some other former Pheu Thai members, including red-shirt co-leader Nattawut Saikuar.

He told reporters politicians had to find ways to enter parliament under a constitution written with the  intention of preventing dominance of the House of Representatives by one big party.

"Our challenge is to prevent the regime prolonging its hold on power. The Thai Raksa Chart Party aims to lead pro-democracy camps to victory in the elections with 251 seats," he said.

The move by Mr Chaturon had been widely expected for weeks, although Pheu Thai key figure Watana Muangsook posted a message on his Facebook account on Wednesday guaranteeing that his friend would contest the general election under the Pheu Thai banner.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai expected more members to switch to the TRCP, including Mr Chaturon's brother and sister, Wutthipong and Thitima, and former Maha Sarakham MP Kusumawatee Sirikomut. All would leave without any ill feeling from Pheu Thai, he added.

Mr Nattawut said his opposition to military coups was unchanged, even though he was now with a political party other than Pheu Thai.

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