I can’t say I had given much thought to what the People’s Alliance for Democracy was going to call its new political party (previous New Mandala coverage of the party’s establishment is available here and here). I figured it would simply be the “People’s Alliance for Democracy”. Brand recognition, and all that. But clearly I was wrong.

It turns out they will call it Pak Karn Muang Mai (р╕Юр╕гр╕гр╕Др╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Гр╕лр╕бр╣И — New Politics Party). Not an unsurprising choice, I suppose, given how much this ill-defined notion has been part of their campaigns to topple a series of elected governments. Now they will be running for election themselves and the voters will be in a position to judge their policies and politicians. How will “New Politics” fare? Will its new name help or hinder its electoral chances?

Of course, in terms of Thai political party brands such “new-ness” has been tried and tested before. In its day, the Pak Kwam Wang Mai (р╕Юр╕гр╕гр╕Др╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕лр╕зр╕▒р╕Зр╣Гр╕лр╕бр╣И — New Aspiration Party) was a force to be reckoned with. Such echoes may have crossed the minds of the PAD elders.

They know that “new-ness” has worked well in the past. Dare I remind everyone that the original (successful, famous and arguably unsurpassed) Thai Rak Thai campaign slogan (for the January 2001 election) can be translated as “New thinking, new action — for all Thais”.

This all makes me wonder if New Mandala readers reckon you could come up with a better party name (and associated slogan) for the People’s Alliance for Democracy’s electoral machine. Something really “new”? Or, to re-phrase the question, if you were Sondhi Limthongkul for a day, what would you have called the People’s Alliance for Democracy party?

Feel free to make your suggestions in Thai or English.