Care, the newly formed political group, has sent a strong message urging "all uncles" to end their grip on power and return democracy to the country.
The 40-member group, whose name is an acronym for Creative, Action, Revival and People Empowerment, was launched yesterday at the Voice Space building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
Phatra Securities board chairman Banyong Pongpanich, who joined the event as a guest, called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his ministers to step down from power once the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control.
He did not directly refer to them by name, but called them "uncles" instead.
"For all uncles, this will be an opportunity to graciously dismount from riding the tiger," he said about the post-Covid 19 period.
He also called for the charter to be amended to bring "true democracy" to the country and urged the "uncles" to learn a lesson from former British prime minister Winston Churchill.
"Sir Winston Churchill led the United Kingdom to victory in World War II, but he lost badly in an election three months later," he said.
Aside from Mr Banyong, Care co-founders also included economist Supavut Saichue, an adviser to Phatra, and several politicians close to Thaksin Shinawatra and who recently defected from the Pheu Thai Party.
The politicians, Phumtham Wechayachai, Prommin Lertsuridej and Surapong Suebwonglee, were all executives of the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, dissolved in 2007 for electoral fraud.
Other co-founders included architect Duangrit Bunnag, SEA Write award winner Veeraporn Nitiprapha, writer Lakkana Punwichai known as Kham Phaka and Prit Ruktapongpisal, a son of former key TRT figure Pongsak Ruktapongpisal.
Mr Phumtham said the group will engage with all sectors of society to solve the country's problems.
He said all people's voices are vital in moving the country forward.
Ms Lakkana said her group has three key words to move the country forward which are: thinking, moving and Thai.
She said thinking is people in various fields brainstorming to find solutions to many challenges; moving is gathering people to build connections to push the country forward and Thai means our country that will recover democracy and people's voices.
Mr Duangrit said brainstorming and listening to various voices will help resolve the country's problems. That was the mission of the group.
Care is expected to evolve into a new political party in time for the next election.