South Dovani

[Wu Han]

OOC: Post-dated.

▲ Mr. Rak Khemanich

PIE Defectors Join NEWP Ahead of 5637 Election
12 December 5636

UDON NAKHON, South Dovani (HNB) – Former Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (PIE) leader Rak Khemanich has announced his decision to join the New Elephant Worker’s Party (NEWP) ahead of the 5637 legislative election. Rak has sat as an independent since leaving the PIE following a contentious leadership election that saw Finance Minister Vitaya Kongsangchai defeat the incumbent Rak for the leadership of the party. Twelve other assemblymembers who resigned from the PIE in solidarity with Rak have also joined the NEWP.

Rak is a left-leaning nationalist who has long been at odds with his former party’s dominant neoliberal faction, led by Vitaya, particularly over the NERI privatization initiative spearheaded by the party. In contrast, Rak maintained a close personal and working relationship with former NEWP Prime Minister Chandra Srirai, under whose government he served as leader of the largest junior coalition member. Many observers have consequently viewed Rak as being more aligned with Chandra than with his own party. Responding to reporters’ questions while walking between meetings at the National Assembly, PIE leader Vitaya Kongsangchai remarked, “Rak should feel right at home now among the socialists who obstructed our national development and progress.”



The Hanzen News Bureau (สำนักข่าวหัณย์) or HNB, is a not-for-profit news wire agency headquartered in Udon Nakhon, South Dovani, with dispatch offices across the continent of Dovani. The HNB produces news reports that are distributed to major daily newspapers and radio and television broadcasters across the continent.