The 46-year-old future MP from the Move Forward Party’s party list, Ms. Nateepat Kulsetthasith, left the organization on Tuesday, May 16, following her arrest for drunk driving in Bangkok. After winning the Thai election on May 14th, this happened just one day later.
According to Ms. Nateepat, “Last night, May 15, I went out with some pals. I consumed roughly four glasses of booze. Following that, I passed my vehicle via a police checkpoint. I did as the police requested in terms of a test, but I called my friends to come watch before I took the alcohol breath test so they could be witnesses. There is nothing the Move Forward Party can do about this; it is entirely my fault. I sincerely apologize to the voters who gave me their support. I have to accept responsibility for my actions and leave my position.
Nateepat was making reference to the fact that some media outlets first claimed she had refused to take the breathalyzer test, which she rejects. Instead, she claims that she merely wanted to get some advise and call a friend to watch the procedure, which took about an hour. She later took the test, tested over the legal limit, and was subsequently taken into custody.
To the press, Mr. Pijarn Chaopattanawong, the deputy leader of the Move Forward Party, said, “The Police Chief has confirmed to us that Ms. Nateepat did not tell police at the checkpoint that she was a future member of Parliament and she did not use or ask for any special exceptions.” As a party-list member of Parliament, Ms. Nateepat has resigned.
After the election, the Move Forward Party will have 39 total members of parliament on its party list. Ms. Suthep U-On, who is ranked number 40 on the list, will take Ms. Nateepat’s spot since she resigned. The seat is still held by the Move Forward Party, and no one will run for it.
