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Published on April 19, 2008

KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI

THE NATION

The 2007 Constitution says a party can face dissolution if any of its executives are found to have cheated in an election. Chart Thai is not just the party that belongs to leader Banharn Silapa-archa, a distinction that has earned it the nickname of the "party of eels". Two of its leaders were prime ministers, another two almost took the post, and the party has played a major role in many aspects of Thai politics over its 34-year existence.

The first prime minister from Chart Thai was Chatichai Choonhavan, who founded the party along with Pramarn Adireksarn and Siri Siriyothin. He headed a coalition government after the 1988 election in which Chart Thai got 87 MPs.  Chatichai and Pramarn said that besides the fact that the cofounders worked for the military and the Royal Thai Police, the name chosen for the party, "Chart Thai" (Thai Nation), was also a symbol against the expansion of the Communist Party at that time.

Actually it was Pramarn who first led the party in 1974. He was a deputy prime minister after the 1975 election when MR Kukrit Pramoj was prime minister.

In the 1983 election, Chart Thai had the highest number of elected MPs with 73, but Pramarn failed to get the support he needed to lead the government and Prem took on a second term as prime minister.

Then there was a movement by Chatichai and businessman-turned-politician Banharn Silapa-archa to push Chatichai into the post of party leader.

In 1986, Chatichai became leader of the Chart Thai, but party members then split into factions and some later left the party.

However, Chatichai became the first elected prime minister after the 1978 constitution was in effect. He led the country and the coalition government until the military coup in 1991. Somboon Rahong was then pushed to be the new party leader as he worked well as a mediator between the military and politicians.  Somboon was expected to be the next prime minister. Nevertheless, Arthit Urairat, then House Speaker, changed his mind at the last minute. He submitted the name of Anand Panyarachun for royal endorsement instead, leaving Somboon waiting at home in his uniform.

Chatichai left the party in 1992 to form the Chart Pattana Party. Meanwhile, Pramarn reassumed the leadership with the support of Snoh Thienthong.

However, a new generation of politicians, including Newin Chidchob, Varathep Rattanakorn and Pairote Suwanchawee, supported Banharn assuming the leadership. With 77 MPs, two seats fewer than the Democrats, Banharn led the opposition in a censure debate on alleged corruption in the land-for-farmers project. Then prime minister Chuan Leekpai eventually dissolved the House.

Banharn became the 21st prime minister of Thailand, the second from the Chart Thai Party, after the party won 92 seats in 1995.

Conflicts within the coalition government and the party itself, together with the Democrat Party's censure debate, forced Banharn to declare House dissolution. Many former MPs moved to other parties.

After the establishment of the Thai Rak Thai party, many former Chart Thai MPs including Snoh and Pairote, moved to the new party. Thai Rak Thai won the election, making leader Thaksin Shinawatra the prime minister. Furthermore, Thai Rak Thai won the 2005 election. Chart Thai, with 25 MPs, then joined the Democrat and Mahachon parties in the opposition.

The three parties joined together as an alliance against Thai Rak Thai amidst the public rift between pro- and anti-Thaksin groups, which started later in the same year. However, Banharn held talks with Thaksin during that time. Questions concerning veteran Banharn's actions in that period before the military coup persist.

When the 2007 election rolled around, political observers became interested in which camp medium-sized parties like Chart Thai would join - the People Power Party, which was the new party of former Thai Rak Thai MPs, or the Democrats.

Banharn said at that time that he would not disappoint a person he had respected for 30 years. That statement was taken to be referring to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, who had been attacked many times by Thai Rak Thai and People Power Party supporters. But eventually, Banharn decided to join the PPP's government with five of his own conditions.

Nevertheless, the Election Commission on April 11 decided to submit its party-dissolution case against Chart Thai, as well as the Matchima Thipataya Party, to the Attorney-General to pass on to the courts.

If the Constitution Court rules for its dissolution, Chart Thai will be a party of history. But if it can defend itself, the case will be just another critical point in its history.