Bangkok: Rachit Sudphum, a Democrat Party MP from Nakhon Si Thammarat, has declared his support for Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, to become the next Prime Minister.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Rachit emphasized two main reasons for his endorsement: the urgent need to address border conflicts and to tackle economic challenges, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Mr. Rachit explained that he has been a longstanding member of the Democrat Party but was unable to attend the recent government formation announcement due to prior commitments. He noted that the Democrat Party has left decisions regarding government formation to its leader, who has yet to make any definitive moves. Mr. Rachit expressed his belief that dissolving Parliament at this juncture is not advisable.
Highlighting his reasons, Mr. Rachit stated, "We're currently facing conflict on the border. We can't just let the government sit idle. We can't just be campaigning while our neighbors are still shooting at each other. There must be a government within the next four or five months." Additionally, he pointed to severe economic issues, particularly the declining palm oil prices affecting his hometown. Mr. Rachit stressed the need for government intervention to address these anticipated problems effectively.
When questioned about potential repercussions within the Democrat Party or the possibility of switching allegiance to the Bhumjaithai Party, Mr. Rachit indicated that he has not made any decisions about changing parties. He underscored the necessity of forming a government and clarified that he has not communicated any decision to the party leader, as the party has not reached a resolution on the matter.
"I'm still with the Democrat Party right now. We'll talk about it next term," Mr. Rachit confirmed.