Future Forward upbeat on seat hopes as poll approaches

The Future Forward Party is confident its candidates will win in several constituencies in the general election expected in late February, dismissing speculation it would get only party-list votes.

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, the party's secretary-general, yesterday brushed aside predictions by political pundits that Future Forward is unlikely to win House seats in constituencies, but will have to settle for list seats from "loser votes'' in the constituency system.

Piyabutr: Anakhot Mai secretary-general

"I don't see our constituency MP candidates as foot soldiers who are meant only to collect votes for party-list candidates. All constituency candidates are our ideological fighters," Mr Piyabutr said. "Based on my recent experience visiting people in the provinces, I believe we'll win in many constituencies. People want change,'' he said.

Future Forward, or Anakhot Mai, yesterday continued accepting applications for constituency and party-list MP candidates at its office at the Thai Summit Tower on New Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok. Applications have been accepted online since Oct 18 and can be submitted until Nov 18.

All applicants will first be screened for qualifications, background and political orientation before they are put to primary votes by party members on Dec 8-9, Mr Piyabutr said. The party will have all 350 candidates ready by the end of this year, he said.

Several people showed up yesterday to apply to run in the general election under the Future Forward banner. Most are people who have never entered politics. Rangsiman Rome, a post-graduate student who has led several anti-coup and pro-election protests over the past four years, also came but only to apply as a party member.

"It was hard to choose which party I should apply [to be a member]. But when I heard Gen Apirat, I decided I had to do something," he said. He was referring to the army chief's comment that he could not guarantee whether there would not be another coup if political unrest breaks out after the election.

Nattapat Akkahad, a brother of Kamonkate Akkahad, a volunteer nurse who was shot dead in a temple during the red-shirt rally in Pathumwan district in 2010, also came to apply as an MP candidate. "This party aims to change the country and allows the new generation to drive that change,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT) Party yesterday continued its activity described as "walks to pay respect to the land" for a third day in Bangkok. During the walk, co-founder Suthep Thaugsuban invited people to apply for party membership, saying the ACT belongs to all people.