Rally in city excludes Pheu Thai party

At Victory Monument on Sunday, a large group gathered under the banner of the "United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty" to voice their opposition to the Pheu Thai Party and its potential role in forming the next government.

Pichit Chaimongkol, from the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, addressed the crowd, stating that the rally opposed the "Thaksin regime and network." He also expressed his belief that dissolving the House early will not solve the current situation.

The group stressed six demands for the new government, including that the prime minister must not come from the Pheu Thai Party. In addition to this, the "United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty" group has added new demands, such as upholding the monarchy, scrapping certain border agreements, abandoning plans to expand foreigner ownership rights, keeping casinos banned, and dropping the financial hub bill.

Pichit Chaimongkol, the group's leader, also stated that political parties are focusing more on securing enough support to form a government rather than addressing the public's demands.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party's official candidate for the Prime Minister position currently being discussed is Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former Attorney General and Justice Minister aged 77. Despite his status as the party's sole official candidate following the resignation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Chaikasem Nitisiri's nomination is met with opposition from groups like the "United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty."

Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister and influential figure behind the Pheu Thai Party, was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, but his political influence remains.

In a recent development, the People's Party (PP) and Pheu Thai have agreed to meet and discuss preconditions for supporting the PP's candidate. One of the conditions set by the PP for Pheu Thai's support is the dissolution of the House within four months.

The rally at Victory Monument serves as a reminder of the ongoing political tension in Thailand, as various groups continue to voice their concerns and demands for change.