But that may be changing now that new faces are lining up to take matters into their own hands, vowing to make the country progressive.

As soon as the ban on political activities was eased and the registration of new political parties was allowed two months ago, Thai politics has seen fresh energy.

The Future Forward Party is in the spotlight with an image of youth and progressiveness. But Thailand has also seen a newcomer called the Moderate Party, which pledges to offer a solution to the conflicts plaguing the country.

“Good people try to stay as far away from politics as they can, because politics is a bad word now,” said the party’s co-founder Chumphol Krootkaew, a former prominent research scientist and an ultra marathon runner who made a sharp turn to join politics.

“So, I want to do this to set an example that we all can be politicians, no matter how distant from it we may seem. I want people to look at politics again and see that it is a good thing.”

Chumphol said that after finishing an adventurous running programme in Nepal last year, he found pushing the limits could go beyond conquering himself. So, he thought about doing something for the greater good, he said.

The elite runner also has a close relationship with a co-founder of the most talked-about party, Future Forward, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who also has a heart for extreme and adventurous activities.

Chumphol said the billionaire and his political ambition in part inspired him to come into politics. However, he decided to take a separate path and set up a party on his own, not join Thanathorn.

“I see that the moderate approach to be adopted by the Moderate Party fits better with me,” Chumphol said. “While Thanathorn is an aggressive progressive, I lean more towards the moderate progressive spectrum.”

He went on to say that studies had found that moderate parties were actually the solution to countries divided into strong left and right wings, and were successful in many countries as a medium to link people with different ideologies together.Chumphol also said he thinks he has a solution for Thailand.

“To be a moderate party, one of our key values is that we respect everyone’s beliefs and decisions. We will not try to change anyone. There’s no use,” he said. “We’d rather step over all these conflicts and put our time and energy into developing the country. When this works out, people will change accordingly.”

The party accepts people from rival political colours, yellow or red, Chumphol said. So long as they were willing to move the country forward, they were welcomed, he said.

While all this may sound too good to be true to some people, the scientist-turned-politician insisted that such a goal was achievable, especially with the help of technology.

The Moderate Party is the first party in Thailand to pledge full utilisation of modern technology in the decision-making process in politics. “Direct and liquid democracy”, Chumphol called it.

Referendums can be held as many times as necessary when everyone can vote via a smartphone or a computer, he suggested. Better yet, if voters could also opt to assign experts in a field related to each issue to make a decision on their behalf, too, he said.

Despite such a scheme that could overturn politics and the role of the members of parliament in decision-making, Chumphol said the party did not have ambitions for power and actually would not mind losing an election.

“The national interest is our first priority. The sustainability of the party is the second. And winning an election is actually the third,” he said. “So, we’re not here to just win an election. We aim more at making the country and our party better. And we hope that when we accomplish that, winning an election will come naturally.”

THE PRIME minister yesterday played down rallies by pro-democracy activists planned for this month to press the ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to hold the long-delayed election this year.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday insisted that the election would have to be held next year following a conclusion by the junta-appointed legislative assembly to delay the implementation of the MP election law.

“I have told the international arena about this and no one objected to me,” he said at Government House. “I never wished to delay the election, but the law changes make it unavoidable.”

He also hinted that the activists might have political agendas.

“Just see if they are old or new people. Do they talk in line with politicians? I wish people would take lessons from escalations in the past,” Prayut said.

General Wallop Raksanor, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), added that protesters should not plan to be violent and should not break any laws.

The pro-election activists, led by the Democracy Restoration Group, plan to launch major assemblies this month, when the NCPO will reach its fourth anniversary in power.They will not only call for an election but also demand that the junta not remain in power after the election.

Their demands are linked to fears that the current junta-written constitution may allow the NCPO to mobilise its power via the parliamentary system, with wholly handpicked senators and the possibility of an outsider prime minister.

Additionally, the junta-written, 20-year national strategy plan provides for punishments for civilian governments if they fail to follow it.

Since the start of the assemblies in January, dozens of activists, students and journalist have faced charges for allegedly breaking the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people, the public assembly law, and land traffic laws.

Unlike his uncle, Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was invovled in a military service avoidance scandal, Parit insisted that his voluntary conscription had nothing to do with correcting the legacy of the Democrat leader. “Even if I were not his nephew, I would still apply to enlist,” he said.

The 26-year-old will spend six months at a military camp. This means that he should be out in November, three months before the general election is due to be held.

Parit, who plans to become a Democrat member and eventually an MP candidate, is one of new faces emerging after a so-called “lost decade” in the Thai political arena.

With “young blood” branding, Parit has brushed aside political linkage with his uncle, who has been one of the key players in Thai politics and is also a controversial figure.

On Tuesday, Parit reported to the 11th Army Circle with his hair already cut and his political plans already cleared. That included a talk with Abhisit a few days ago about the party’s policies and direction during his absence, and talks with the young-blood team he leads, Parit said.

He also stressed that he would not be “attracted” to any other political party despite recent waves of politicians shifting to side with the junta.

“My ideology is very clear. I will go for the party that can serve my purpose,” he said. “If the Democrat Party can enter new era, I will go for it. And there is currently no reason it cannot do so.”

Parit chose to remain mum about increasing calls to end the requirement for all qualified Thai men to be conscripted for military service.

“I choose to voluntarily enlist to the service because I wish to carry on my duties as required by the law,” he said. “I should have more idea on whether conscription should exist once I enter the service.”