Thanathorn denies secret deals, says People's Party prioritises democracy

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Chairman of the Progressive Movement and former leader of the Future Forward Party, addressed rumours of political deals involving the People's Party during the "55 Years Nation Exclusive Talk: Breaking Through Thailand's Crisis" programme on Friday. The discussion, moderated by three editors-in-chief from Nation Group, focused on political dynamics and national issues.

Thanathorn responded to questions regarding the speculation that the People's Party had worked with the Pheu Thai Party on certain issues and might collaborate with the Bhumjaithai Party. He categorically rejected the idea, stating, "The assumption that we are influenced by any faction is untrue. I can assure you that there are no 'red' or 'blue' deals, at least to my knowledge.” 

He went on: “The People's Party has never traded the interests of the people for personal gains, and there have been no underhanded dealings, such as the PN tickets involving Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. We are only concerned with legality, not ethics, as the latter is too subjective to interpret."

When asked about his views on independent bodies interpreting ethics, Thanathorn explained that he disagreed with this approach, asserting that it often became a political tool. 

"Ethical standards vary from person to person and there is no clear way to measure them,” he said. “In many cases, these ethical interpretations do not align with the gravity of the offences. We should not grant independent bodies the power to decide on political matters. If there are legal violations, they should be handled politically and decided by the people through elections."

On the topic of whether the Constitutional Court should have such power, Thanathorn stated, "Any power granted should be as narrow as possible, with no authority to punish. If a judiciary body is needed, it should be in specific cases. Legal interpretation must be narrowly defined."

When questioned about whether the People's Party could consider reducing its stance on the monarchy in order to collaborate with those in power, Thanathorn replied, "When we formed the Future Forward Party, we did not advocate for changes to Article 112. We never discussed changing it as part of forming a coalition government. The issue arose after the dissolution of Future Forward. No one is trying to overthrow the institution. We all care deeply about our country, and we always said that the way to preserve the monarchy is through gradual reform to keep it in line with the modern era."

Thanathorn concluded by acknowledging the support he has received, stating, "I could never have come this far in politics without the support of the people. I receive flowers and encouragement daily. Without this, I wouldn't have lasted seven years in Thai politics. We will continue to push forward as best as we can, honouring our promise to build a democratic society, ensure legal equality, and strengthen our economy to compete globally."