People's Power Party (Thailand)
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People's Power Party
พรรคพลังประชาชน Palang Prachachon |
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| Leader | Samak Sundaravej |
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| Founded | November 9, 1998 |
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| Ideology | Centre-Right, Populism |
| Official colors | Orange, blue, white |
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| Website http://www.ppp.or.th/ |
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The People's Power Party (Palang Prachachon; PPP - Sanskrit Prajājan = People) is a Thai political party. Founded on November 9, 1998 by Police Lieutenant Colonel Garn Tienkaew. Now, Its Party Leader is Samak Sundaravej; the Party Secretary General is Surapong Suebwonglee and the Party Spokesperson is Kuthep Saikrajarng.
On 29 July 2007, some former Thai Rak Thai Party MPs agreed to contest the 2007 elections as candidates of the People's Power Party.[1] [2] This was after the Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved by the Thai Supreme Court on May 30, 2007 and follows the ban on participating in politics from many former TRT party politicians such as Newin Chidchob, Buriram and former leader Thaksin Shinwatra. Many other former TRT members have also formed their own parties including Ruam Jai Thai and Puea Pandin Party.
Former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej and former TRT Cabinet Minister Surapong Suebwonglee were elected People's Power Party leader and secretary general respectively on August 24, 2007.[3]
After some former TRT members joined the People's Power Party (PPP), the junta allegedly issued a classified order to suppress the activities of the Party. The order was leaked to the public, leading to a complaint to the Election Commission from the PPP.
The Electoral Commission has deployed 200,000 soldiers and police to maintain security and 1,500 officers to watch for election fraud. Charnchai Silapauaychai, a popular former Democrat Party member from Phrae who switched to the PPP for the 2008 election, was assassinated. Five men, one of them cousin of a powerful Democrat Party MP were arrested, but all denied involvement.[4]
PPP party policies appear to continue the popularist welfare policies of the former TRT government. In addition PPP have promised to offer amnesty for the banned TRT politicians, to bring Thaksin Shinwatra back to Thailand and remove any charges against him. Throughout the lead up to the 2007 election, PPP have faced charges that they engaged in vote buying, that former TRT members banned from politics have appeared in public to support PPP, and that several banned CDs have been distributed in rallies. Thaksin Shinawatra and family currently face multiple charges of corruption including telecommunications, property and family deals. TRT politicians also face charges of corruption in multiple state asset sales including PTT, illegality of 2/3 number lotteries and more recently a possible link between the bribery charges levelled against Thaksin appointed former governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas.
PPP's expected primary voter base are the former TRT areas of the rural North and Northeast of Thailand.[5][6].
The legitimacy of the PPP win is being challenged on several fronts. The Supreme Court is set to hear a claim that the PPP is essentially a proxy of the banned political party Thai Rak Thai, and should thus also be banned. The election commission is also investigating the results of 83 seats, and as a consequence 3 PPP candidates have been disqualified.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Thaksin's legal advisor to join People Power party, People's Daily, July 30, 2007
- ^ Ex-TRT MPs join little-known party, The Nation (Thailand), July 29, 2007
- ^ People Power to elect Samak as new leader on August 22, The Nation (Thailand), August 2007
- ^ IHT, Thailand to deploy 200,000 police and soldiers for post-coup elections, International Herald Tribune, 17 December 2007
- ^ Polls: Thaksin Allies Win in Thailand, The Guardian, December 23, 2007
- ^ Thaksin-linked party claims "victory for democracy" in Thai polls, Forbes, December 23, 2007
- ^ BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Thaksin ally victory 'undermined'
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