According to Chatichai's scheme of things, his party would form the nucleus of the next coalition by acting as a bridge between the opposing factions, having links with Therd Thai through its new leader Anuwat, a former Chart Thai member, on the right, and the Democrat and New Aspiration Parties on the left. Any inclusion of PDP appeared to be out of the question. Rejecting the accusations that the party was merely "old wine in a new bottle", a "transformed evil party", and a "devil in disguise", Chatichai insisted that the party consisted of middle-ranking politicians opposed to the policies of their old parties.