Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij has rejected the claim by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak that the party's opposition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha returning to office would shake investors' confidence.
Mr Korn said foreign investors he met on Wednesday were concerned about possible political conflict if the 250 senators to be handpicked by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) decide to oppose the prime minister proposed by a party winning a majority in the House.
"An attempt to prolong power in an undemocratic way will lead to conflict in the society," he wrote on his Facebook account on Thursday.
The former finance minister was responding to Mr Somkid's warning on Wednesday of the consequences of a delayed political deadlock and its impact on investors' confidence as a result of the party's decision not to support Gen Prayut's bid to be elected prime minister .
Mr Somkid did not mention the Democrats by name, but his statement was clearly directed at the party and its stand against Prime Minister Prayut.
"Leaders of some political parties announced that they will not support Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha returning as prime minister," the deputy prime minister said on Wednesday. "Perhaps such announcements were made too early."
"If a new government can't be formed and there is a political deadlock, the private sector will slow investment and new projects will be stalled."
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva announced on Monday that he would not support Gen Prayut for prime minister after the election. Other members of the executive confirmed on Tuesday his remark reflected the party's position.
Mr Korn said that in trying to place blame on the Democrats the deputy prime minister was being "unfair" to the party. The Democrats' position was announced to end public confusion and show the direction the party was taking in the election campaign, he added.
Gen Prayut is the Palang Pratcharat Party's lone candidate for prime minister. He chairs the NCPO, whose members will select 250 senators from the list of 400 shortlisted by the unnamed members of a secretive screening committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.