Nattawut Saikuar: The loyal red-shirt leader wrongfooted by Thaksin and Pheu Thai

Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar quit the Pheu Thai Party last week in protest against its move to form a coalition government with military-backed parties linked with the 2014 coup.

The politician said that he opposed Pheu Thai’s decision to “share power with the military” and “cannot go along with the party”.

Nattawut, 48, previously served as director of the Pheu Thai Family – a post apparently created especially for him after he rejoined the party in June last year. He also helped with Pheu Thai’s campaign for the May 14 election.

His break with the party came just a day before Parliament voted to elect Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin as Thailand’s next prime minister. Nattawut explained he was quitting because he had promised party supporters before the election that Pheu Thai would not work with Palang Pracharath or United Thai Nation parties.

Palang…