Bangkok: Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, deputy leader of the People's Party and a candidate for Member of Parliament, has made a bold statement challenging anyone implicated in scammer activities to resign, regardless of how many more names are revealed. He questioned the double standards in politics, highlighting cases where candidates from other parties, whose assets have been seized, continue their political careers. Wiroj believes this is part of a campaign to discredit the People's Party, noting that if all those who endorsed such candidates were to resign, the entire party would be affected.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Viroj addressed the arrests of some People's Party candidates and rumors of further detentions, criticizing the candidate verification process. He emphasized that all arrest warrants against People's Party candidates were issued post-registration and that none of the arrested candidates had prior convictions. The party has mechanisms to investigate complaints through its adjudication and disciplinary committees, ensuring that no premature judgments are made without concrete evidence.
The People's Party aims to be a mass party, encouraging public participation, which inadvertently poses challenges in candidate selection. The party strives to improve its screening processes while maintaining openness. Mr. Viroj reiterated the importance of accountability to the public, stating that any candidate prosecuted will be encouraged to resign to preserve the party's integrity. He believes this transparency will prompt the public to question the selective targeting of People's Party candidates by law enforcement and the leniency shown towards candidates from other parties facing serious allegations.
Viroj further criticized the continued political participation of candidates from other parties involved in money laundering and corruption cases, some of which have been recognized as special cases by the Department of Special Investigation. He expressed concern about an orchestrated effort to undermine the People's Party, fearing that their potential crackdown on illegal businesses and corruption upon coming to power might threaten entrenched political networks.
The People's Party commits to holding members accountable, applying consistent standards without exception. Mr. Viroj assured that once in power, the People's Party would eliminate privilege above the law, underscoring a commitment to genuine anti-corruption measures. He emphasized the importance of addressing systemic issues in candidate selection rather than focusing on individual resignations, suggesting that such an approach would lead to broader accountability within the party.
Regarding a recent incident in Tak province, Mr. Viroj revealed that the party is actively investigating, though it lacks the authority to mandate a financial probe. He stressed the need for concrete evidence over anonymous accusations, warning against the dangers of premature judgments based on unverified complaints.
Lastly, in response to criticism from Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat of the New Opportunity Party, Mr. Viroj highlighted the importance of proportional accountability, urging a review of Mr. Jatuporn's own record in office. He argued for documented accountability, suggesting that any wrongdoing in procurement processes should also implicate Mr. Jatuporn.