No deals made with Thaksin over Democrats joining coalition, says spokesman
Democrat Party insists “no negotiations” have been made with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra over a possible Cabinet reshuffle after the latter said he had held talks with some Democrat MPs.
Democrat spokesman Rames Rattanachaweng said on Monday that the party’s executives had not discussed the possibility of joining the coalition government that is being led by its biggest rival, the Pheu Thai Party.
He said that all decisions should be made through the consideration of the party’s executives, and no MP has the authority to make any deals or engage in negotiations on their own.
Thaksin, who is believed to be Pheu Thai’s patriarch, told reporters on Sunday that he had spoken to several Democrat MPs whom he knows personally, including the party’s secretary-general Dech-it Khaothong.
Songkhla MP Dech-it had spent eight years with Pheu Thai’s predecessor, Thai Rak Thai Party, which had been established by Thaksin.
“We all know each other. We talked about politics. Many people want to work for the country, but sometimes it’s difficult because there are 36 ministerial posts, including that of the prime minister,” Thaksin said.
When asked if the Democrats would join the coalition, he said he does not know because the decision is with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Rames also said his party had given its job at the opposition bench its finest shot, adding that Srettha should reveal which Democrat MPs had asked for ministerial posts.
On Saturday, Srettha reiterated that the Cabinet reshuffle would not happen soon and denied rumours about him taking over the Defence portfolio, saying Finance is the only other portfolio he holds.
