Chuan is confident the Democrat Party will gain more party-list MPs for sure. He acknowledges limited funds for constituency MPs who are fighting desperately, urges society to choose “honest people who do not engage in corruption or betray the nation,” and declines to comment on an alliance with Pheu Thai, leaving the decision to Abhisit.
At 07:30 on 28 Dec 2025 GMT+7, at the Centara Life Hotel, Government Complex Convention Center, Chaeng Watthana, Mr. Chuan Leekpai, former leader of the Democrat Party (DP) and party-list MP candidate, was interviewed regarding criticism that this election involves heavy spending due to economic problems affecting people's livelihoods and cost of living. He admitted that economic issues partly cause vote-buying problems in the South, similar to other regions. This leads people to accept 500 or 1,500 baht as help for their daily lives. He appealed to the public, saying that if everyone truly loves democracy, they must help oppose vote-buying so that politicians will be honest and corruption-free, leading to better governance.
When asked how the Democrat Party, seen as having limited funds, can overcome the election challenges, Mr. Chuan said he hopes the party will gain more party-list MPs. Previously, they had three, but this time they expect more than four, though the exact number is uncertain. He noted that gaining more constituency MPs would be difficult. He told the party leader that some prominent potential candidates asked about payment amounts, ending the discussion due to difficulties. Therefore, increasing constituency MPs is not easy, and everyone must help. For party-list MPs, he again urged people nationwide to support parties that are honest, do not engage in corruption or betray the nation, and will improve the country with good politics, emphasizing that this is practical, not just rhetoric.
Regarding the southern election field where the Democrat Party must compete against many former members who moved to other parties, and whether this makes the battle tougher, Mr. Chuan said he has urged all party candidates that when campaigning, they must speak the truth. In the last 40 days of campaigning, merely visiting areas is insufficient. They must focus on speeches that inform the public of the facts and what the Democrat Party has genuinely advocated. When people know this, they will support the party. He also campaigns against vote-buying and recalled successfully emphasizing to southern voters in the past that the Thai Rak Thai government discriminated against the South, which led to Thai Rak Thai winning no southern MPs at all.
As for whether the Democrat Party might form a government with Pheu Thai after the election, Mr. Chuan said the party leader will make that decision. Many parties might consider cooperating with anyone, but the Democrat Party leader has clearly stated they will not collaborate with anyone involved with scammers. Before making that statement, the leader had investigated complaints about such matters. When pressed on whether this means the Democrat Party does not close the door to an alliance with Pheu Thai, Mr. Chuan said that question should be directed to Pheu Thai, and he cannot answer on behalf of the party leader.