Legal Expert Says Party Merger Ban Has Loopholes for MPs to Join Phueai Thai

Key summary

Dr. Natthawut Wongniem, a public law expert known as 'Dr. Nat', stated that while current laws prohibit party mergers during the term of the House of Representatives under Section 96 of the Political Party Act B.E. 2560, legal loopholes exist. These include dissolving a party according to its bylaws or expelling MPs via a committee resolution. Dr. Nat cited the dissolution of the People's Reform Party by Mr. Paiboon Nititawan in September 2019 as a precedent where MPs were able to join new parties after their original party dissolved legally. He noted that General Danas Phromphao, leader of the Gladtharm Party, is considering whether to reduce his role or use merger rumors as political leverage while strengthening ties with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.