A new party founded by former key members of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) insists it will not nominate Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as a candidate for the same role in the next election.
Uttama Savanayana and Sontirat Sontijirawong unveiled the Sang Anakot Thai (Building Thailand's Future) Party yesterday, which claims it will focus on economic issues and ending prolonged political divisions.
Mr Sontirat, a former PPRP secretary-general and ex-energy minister, confirmed that it would not back Gen Prayut as its candidate to lead the country.
"We are not setting up a party to prolong the power of any group. The party will find a prime ministerial candidate who is recognised by the public and has what it takes to solve the country's problems while leading Thailand to compete with other countries," Mr Sontirat said.
Mr Uttama, a former PPRP leader and former finance minister, said the party's stance is to revitalise the economy and lay a solid foundation for a more promising future for the country.
The party intends to steer the kingdom forward without engaging in political conflict, he said.
"Our party is not a spare party for Gen Prayut,'' Mr Uttama insisted.
"When the political circumstances changed, we had to part ways [with the PPRP]. Today, we are working for the people, not for any individual. We decided to walk away and will never look back."
He said an acceptable candidate must be able to lead the country out of conflict, have the necessary managerial skills to run the country competently, and gain international recognition.
Somkid: 'May fit the bill' for PM
Former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak could fit the bill, he added.
"Personally, I think he is suitable," Mr Uttama said. "Frankly speaking, he has never abandoned us."
The party will initially whittle down potential candidates to three people, including the party leader, before deciding on the final candidate, he said.
Sang Anakot Thai will vote to select the party leader and other key positions but the date of that meeting has yet to be set, Mr Uttama said.
During the unveiling ceremony, he said the party is bringing together people with rich and varied careers to brainstorm ideas to overcome economic problems and the pandemic to improve people's lives.
Mr Uttama and Mr Sontirat were expected to form a party after they resigned from the PPRP and their cabinet posts in 2020 due to internal conflict within the ruling party.
Mr Somkid, who was deputy prime minister at the time, also stepped down from the government.
Mr Sontirat was the party's secretary-general before leaving the PPRP, formed to support Gen Prayut's bid to become prime minister in the last general election in 2019.
Mr Somkid, Mr Uttama and Mr Sontirat were told by some factions in the PPRP to resign as their colleagues wanted their ministerial seats to be shared, sources said.
Those factions installed Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon as the new party leader in place of Mr Uttama.
Mr Somkid cited health problems in his resignation to Prime Minister Prayut.
Key politicians joining Sang Anakot Thai named at the ceremony include ex-deputy Democrat Party leader Nipit Intharasombat, and former PPRP party-list MPs Supon Fongngam and Santi Kiranant.
Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, said it would not be easy for the party to compete with the PPRP.
He said neither Mr Uttama nor Mr Sontirat distinguished themselves as cabinet ministers and they were often overshadowed by Mr Somkid.