Six MPs from the opposition Thai Sang Thai Party have been condemned for voting in favour of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as a new prime minister, an act considered contrary to the party’s stance and ideology.

Following the PM vote on Friday (16 August) where all six MPs from the Thai Sang Thai Party voted in support of Paetongtarn from the Pheu Thai Party, Party leader Sudarat Keyuraphan expressed disappointment and condemned the six MPs who broke from the party’s position.

In her Facebook post, Sudarat apologized to the general public for what the Party members did, asserting that the Party adheres to the democratic ideology and the opposition parties’ resolution. “Thus, members of the Thai Sang Thai Party should uphold a strong sense to fulfill their duties with integrity as an opposition party in parliament. Voting in favour of the nominated PM is considered contrary to the Party’s stance and ideology and breached the etiquette in working with other opposition parties,” said Sudarat.

Meanwhile, Thai Sang Thai MP Thakorn Tanthasit, according The Reporters, told the media that the members’ votes in favour of Paetongtarn were cast in the national interest. He reiterated that the country needs a new PM as soon as possible, noting that as there was only one candidate, the members had to vote for Paetongtarn.

Thakorn also affirmed that the Party did not make any backroom deal with the Pheu Thai–led government in order to gain ministerial positions from this vote.

He stated that the remaining 5 members are from rural provinces where the local people urgently need a government to provide them with the assistance they need. Thakorn gave an assurance that he has no falling out with Sudarat.

Matichon on Sunday (18 August) reported that a senior member of the Party revealed that an MP from the Party had done a deal with an influential figure of the Pheu Thai Party, promising to vote in favour of Paetongtarn in exchange for a deputy minister position.

Party executive members are currently deliberating on the appropriate approach they would use to punish those members whose actions went against the party’s position.

The Thai Sang Thai Party was founded in 2021 by Sudarat who has long been involved in politics and has held several ministerial positions in the past. She was a co-founder of the Thai Rak Thai Party with former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and later joined the Pheu Thai Party after the Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved. However, she decided to resign and cut ties with Pheu Thai due to internal conflicts.