Democrat rift goes public: Renegade MPs at Thai PM vote challenge party elders

BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): The 16 renegade Democrat MPs who defied their party’s elders to vote for Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin said on Thursday (Aug 24) that they did nothing wrong and expressed confidence that they would not be expelled from Thailand’s oldest political party.

Led by Det-it Khaothong (pic centre), acting deputy Democrat leader, they held a press conference a day after acting Democrat leader Jurin Laksanawisit demanded that they explain why they did not comply with the party’s resolution to abstain from Tuesday’s vote for prime minister.