Chuan said that wearing colorful clothing does not guarantee democracy if corruption and interference in Senate election manipulation persist. He urged new ministers to stop supporting corrupt individuals and vote-buying.
On 10 April 2026 at the parliament, Chuan Leekpai, party-list MP from the Democrat Party, rose to debate the government policy of Anutin Charnvirakul. He emphasized the principles of truthfulness and political ethics and expressed concern over the absence of elderly welfare policy in the current statement. Chuan stated that the elderly allowance is a hope and a guarantee for those who have served the country all their lives, yet it was not clearly included in the policy statement. He therefore urged the government to seriously continue this issue.
He also stressed the importance of political foundations, proposing that the prime minister take responsibility for ensuring honest and fair elections without fraud. Chuan said he had sent letters to the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Police to request their oversight on this matter. Although no response has yet been received, he said he will not remain passive.
The former house speaker sharply criticized the government’s symbolic expressions, saying that wearing colorful clothing does not reflect a commitment to democracy if corrupt behavior persists behind the scenes or if there is manipulation of the Senate election process in a non-transparent manner. He said he was half-believing and half-doubting the policy claims of adhering to good governance and upholding the nation, religion, and monarchy.
Regarding corruption issues, Chuan pointed out that public trust in the government has declined to the point where people distrust even fuel shortages, suspecting hoarding to recoup vote-buying expenses. He urged new ministers to stop supporting the vicious cycle where politicians buy votes and then seek benefits through corrupt officials who accept bribes in exchange for positions. He called on the prime minister, who has expressed shame over corruption, to avoid wrongdoing and to respect honest officials who serve the country.
Chuan concluded by addressing complaints against the prime minister over interference in the Senate election, saying the truth must be revealed—right is right, wrong is wrong. If the government focuses solely on maintaining its stability by tolerating wrongdoing, it will become an obstacle to national security and international trust. He also reminded independent agencies to perform their roles honestly to help the country overcome problems and achieve true, sustainable stability.