Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would be invited to lead the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party if the coalition-core Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) continues to pressure him, the new party's founder said on Wednesday.
Seksakol Atthawong, vice minister at the Prime Minister's Office, said he set up Ruam Thai Sang Chart as a fall-back in the event that PPRP does not nominate Gen Prayut as the next prime minister.
Last September there had been an attempt to overthrow the prime minister during the censure debate and pressure against him continued within PPRP, Mr Seksakol said.
"A group of people is always trying political tactics. This is unacceptable. As an assistant to the prime minister I have taken care of his political affairs for three years," he said.
"If I do nothing or fail to find a way out and the Palang Pracharath Party does not nominate him for prime minister, will the prime minister have a way out?"
He said he could not tolerate Gen Prayut facing pressure alone in PPRP.
Asked if the new political party belonged to Gen Prayut, Mr Seksakol said he would not say that.
But Gen Prayut agreed with the name of the party, which was his motto while working as the prime minister, he said. Ruam Thai Sang Chart translates as Thais United In Building The Nation.
Mr Seksakol said that many people wanted to join the new party. He expected the MPs who were elected because of Gen Prayut's popularity would join.
He confirmed he planned to invite Gen Prayut to lead the new party.