Politics
Klatham Party Denies Opposition Withdrawal Amid Tensions with Opposition Whip
Surasit Jiamwijak of the Klatham Party has refuted claims that the party is leaving the opposition bloc, asserting that their legislative votes are independent.
On September 22, 2026, Surasit Jiamwijak, a Klatham Party MP for Chiang Rai, addressed recent comments made by Parit Wacharasindhu, the chairman of the opposition whip. Parit had suggested that the Klatham Party might be removed from the opposition coalition following their decision to vote in favor of the 2027 fiscal year budget bill.
Surasit clarified that the Klatham Party has not held any internal meetings for several weeks, making it impossible for the party to have reached a formal decision to withdraw from the opposition. He emphasized that the party maintains its autonomy, voting on legislation based on perceived public benefit rather than following the directives of other opposition parties. Surasit explicitly stated that the party remains part of the opposition bloc and warned the opposition whip against making unilateral assumptions about their status. Furthermore, he noted that if the party were to be invited to join the government in the future, they would be open to considering such an offer.
For residents and observers, this development highlights ongoing shifts and potential realignments within the Thai parliamentary landscape. While the party currently maintains its opposition status, the situation remains fluid. It remains to be confirmed whether formal discussions regarding the party's coalition status will take place between the opposition whip and Klatham leadership in the coming weeks.
