A birthday party was held for Piyabutr and Chaitawat with a cheerful atmosphere, wine sipping, and a party, but Theng and Ice were absent from the group photos. Meanwhile, Pavin summarized the timeline, pointing out that today’s People’s Party is far from the old Future Forward Party today.
On 23 Oct 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that last night (22 Oct), former Future Forward Party leaders held a birthday party for Mr. Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, former secretary-general of Future Forward, and Mr. Chaitawat Tulathon, former leader of Move Forward Party. The event featured wine sipping and lively partying amid ongoing rumors of discord between the "Piyabutr group" and younger MPs within the People’s Party, which had sparked multiple media controversies before.
Today (23 Oct), Mr. Pavin Chachavalpongpun, professor at Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, posted on Facebook summarizing the conflict. He said it began when Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, a party-list MP of the People’s Party, used social media to communicate with the public, employing methods of monitoring, criticizing, mocking, and insulting typical of social media users. Mr. Piyabutr disagreed with this approach, calling it "entertainment dictatorship," and believed party members should return to the roots of ideological and intellectual work.
Mr. Pavin added that after Mr. Piyabutr’s criticism, Ms. Rakchanok and others became very displeased, even announcing they would stop idolizing Mr. Piyabutr, then insulted him as an "ivory tower" figure who only drinks expensive wine all day (he noted that if bought oneself, it’s cheap wine; if free, it’s expensive). They expressed unconstructive opinions, and Ms. Rakchanok’s supporters accused Piyabutr of meddling, escalating into a major conflict within the party.
"Recently, 'Jeab Amarat,' former Future Forward MP, responded to Ms. Rakchanok, saying she organized a birthday party for Mr. Piyabutr with many bottles of expensive wine consumed heavily. She expressed pity for everyone, saying the current People’s Party is very far from the old Future Forward Party. They insult each other directly and indirectly, face to face and sarcastically. If they could splash wine in each other’s faces, they would have done so. It looks fun but is extremely sad," Mr. Pavin stated.
Ms. Amarat Chokepamitkul, former party-list MP of Future Forward, posted multiple photos and clips on Facebook of the birthday party for Mr. Piyabutr and Mr. Chaitawat, with the caption: "A warm evening sending love and support to everyone."
Among the MPs and party leaders attending were Ms. Panikarn Wanich, leader of the Progressive Movement; Ms. Benja Saengchan, former party-list MP; Mr. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, deputy head of the People’s Party; Mr. Nattacha Boonchai-insawat, party-list MP; Mr. Suphanat Meenachainan, Bangkok MP; Mr. Jorayut Jatupornprasert, Bangkok MP; and Mr. Teerachai Panthumas, Bangkok MP, among others.
It is also notable that several current People’s Party executives were absent from the birthday party’s photos and clips, including Mr. Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, party leader; Mr. Pichan Chaowaphatwanwong, party secretary-general; Ms. Phakmon Noon-anant, party spokesperson; Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy party leader; Mr. Parit Watcharasin, deputy party leader; as well as Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, party-list MP, who were all not seen in the group photos.
