The Democrat Party has decided it will nominate its leader Jurin Laksanawisit as the party’s prime ministerial candidate for the next election, said spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng.
Mr Ramet said the party’s executive board came to the decision during its Tuesday meeting. The decision was confirmed by party secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on.
He said Mr Jurin, who was appointed as the party leader after the 2019 general election, has the party’s trust and confidence to lead its candidates into the election.
The party, Mr Ramet said, will field candidates in all 400 constituencies.
Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome is unlikely to join his brother, Sonthaya Kunplome, at the Pheu Thai Party.
A source at the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party said Mr Itthiphol has agreed to help Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is a UTN member and its chief strategist.
Mr Itthiphol quit the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) on Jan 16 but it remains to be seen whether he will apply to become a UTN member, he said.
If he decides to formally join the UTN, he is likely to compete in the election on the party-list system, said the source. UTN member Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said candidate selection in the constituency system is more than 90% complete and the party expects to unveil its policy platform by next Monday. He also said up to 40,000 people are expected to be at a party rally in Nakhon Ratchasima on Feb 25, when Gen Prayut will deliver a speech.
In other news, the Pheu Thai Party will tour five northeastern provinces this weekend to drum up support ahead of the polls, said Nattawut Saikuar, director of the Pheu Thai Family project. He said the party will visit Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Roi Et, Kalasin and Khon Kaen on Feb 17-19. The pre-election campaign will be led by leader Dr Cholnan Srikaew, deputy leader Sutin Klungsang and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the head of the Pheu Thai Family group.
Mr Nattawut said the party will announce a new set of policies to secure the party’s “landslide” win when the House dissolution is called.