At least 30 ex-MPs and cabinet ministers are to establish a new political party, according to a former Prime Minister's Office minister, and one of the proposed party's founders.
Samphan Lertnuwat, who served as the minister during the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration in 1997, told a press conference yesterday the party would be registered on March 1, the day from which the regime will allow new parties to be formed.
It will be named the Citizen Power Party.
Mr Samphan said discussions between the politicians to establish the new party began late last year, adding it would give the people greater choice.
They all agree that the new party would not be a puppet of the Pheu Thai Party, he said.
He said he and his colleagues were bored with political parties "having owners".
Mr Samphan refused to reveal who the party would support to become prime minister, but added it would not rule out backing an outsider premier since the charter allows such a scenario.
According to the former minister, the party's three premier nominees could include party outsiders who have integrity, but he refused to say who they were.
He said the party would likely have a sufficient number of MPs after the poll to be able to propose bills in parliament.
Under the charter, at least 20 MPs from the same party are able to jointly propose legislation.
Former deputy labour and social welfare minister Ekkaporn Rakkwamsuk, another of the party's founders, said the Citizen Power Party will look at finding ways to break the political cycle of elections followed by coups, which has plagued the country for many decades.
The party wants to create public confidence in the political system, said the former deputy minister who also served under the Chavalit administration.
The party will draft a manifesto designed to improve people's quality of life under a development plan on par with Switzerland, he said, adding the Citizen Power Party will also ensure people's voices are heard.
A number of veteran politicians, mostly from New Aspiration Party, were seen at the press conference yesterday.
They included Kiatchai Chaichaowarat, Krit Kongpet, Danairit Watcharaporn, Mongkol Jongsuthamanee and Wichai Chaijitwanitkul.
