Senator Nantana criticized the Prime Minister and Cabinet for flocking to Newin's birthday amid floods, finding happiness amid the people's suffering. She mocked the setting up of a command center in Buriram as a cover and declared that whoever becomes Prime Minister and government must come from the people's consensus.
At 14:15 on 5 Oct 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Nantana Nantavaropas, a member of the Senate (Senator) gave an interview at the parliament regarding images showing Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul and some Cabinet members attending the birthday party of Newin Chidchob, chairman of Buriram United Football Club, on 4 October, while many provinces were suffering from flooding. She said the people's hardship from this severe flood is immense—some have lost their homes, farmlands are damaged, and livestock have died. Yet some groups happily celebrated at the birthday party, leaving the people to suffer, which she deemed inappropriate.
“The Prime Minister’s claim that he went to set up a command center in Buriram to oversee operations is an excuse. Everyone knows whose birthday it was that day. He disregarded the people's distress under the heavy rain and flooding but still celebrated happily. This means he trampled on the people's suffering and remained in his own happiness.”
When asked about Newin’s wishes for Anutin to serve two more terms as Prime Minister, Ms. Nantana said that who becomes Prime Minister or government should come from the people's consensus. Those who claim someone will be Prime Minister for as long as they want show influence aiming to consolidate all power in Thailand, speaking without respect for the people's consensus.
“If the people decide who will be Prime Minister or form the government, that occurs through elections. But when someone can point out who will be Prime Minister and for how long, it means that influence consolidating control over Thailand has succeeded, completely disregarding the people's authority.”