By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE BHUMJAITHAI PARTY will definitely name only one partisan candidate for prime minister in the next general election, confirmed Bhumjaithai spokesman Paradon Prisnananthakul today (Dec.17).
The second largest coalition partner has undoubtedly planned to name Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul as partisan contestant for head of a post-election government and nobody else, according to Paradon.
The Bhumjaithai spokesman apparently made his comments in response to speculation that the second largest coalition partner, steered by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, might probably name Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha among a couple or trio of partisan contenders for prime minister in the nationwide election, anticipated early next year.
Newin has earlier vowed to pit Anutin as Bhumjaithai candidate for prime minister but stopped short of saying whether the party leader might probably be the only one or be among a couple or a trio of partisan contenders for head of a post-election government.
Meanwhile, it would be less likely than ever for the Palang Pracharath to name Prayut as partisan contestant for prime minister again since the largest coalition partner’s boss Prawit Wongsuwan has been reportedly inclined to run for the top post of government himself, partisan sources said.
A contesting party is legally allowed to name a maximum of three partisan persons for head of a post-election government whilst a single partisan candidate may be equally likely to be so named.
In a general election, a person may be legally named partisan candidate for prime minister without himself or herself having been earlier registered as member of any contesting party as had been the case of Prayut having been named head of a Palang Pracharath-led coalition government in the 2019 general election.
Paradon said many more MPs will sooner or later join ranks with nearly 40 others who have already jumped onto the Bhumjaithai bandwagon to contest the general election under the banners of Newin’s camp.
Prayut has remained reluctant and non-committal to anything political since he was earlier allowed by court to prolong his rule for two more years after the general election whilst the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party has already proclaimed their intent to name him a partisan candidate for prime minister.
A contesting party is legally obliged to secure a minimum of 25 elected lawmakers to be eligible to name a partisan candidate for prime minister.
According to the partisan sources, some lawmakers who may have earlier planned to leave the Palang Pracharath either for the Bhumjaithai or the pro-Prayut party had impatiently awaited Prayut’s decision to unveil his future political plots so that they could probably make up their mind accordingly whilst others had chosen to wait no longer and finally jumped onto Newin camp’s bandwagon.
One’s electoral candidacy is legally provided on condition that he or she may have been registered as a member of a party for a minimum of 30 days ahead of the election date in case that the House of Representatives is dissolved by the prime minister before it may otherwise fully complete a four-year term, scheduled to end on March 24.
But in case that the House is not dissolved throughout the final day of its term, one’s electoral candidacy is legally provided in relation to his or her having been attached to a party for a minimum of 90 days ahead of the election date.
Prayut has earlier confided to members of his cabinet that he had intended to live out the House’s four-year term, they said.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul addressing a ceremony to welcome nearly 40 former MPs who registered as partisan members yesterday. Photo: Matichon
Front Page: De facto Bhumjaithia Party boss Newin Chidchob. Photo: Buriramunited.com
Also read: Nearly 40 ex-MPs have joined Bhumjaithai Party
Two party-hopping MPs quit in prelude to 40-plus others
Only one-third of party-hopping MPs to get reelected: Chonlanan
Prayut’s chances of prolonging rule getting slim: Academic
Prayut shrugs off remarks on leaving Prawit’s camp
Analysis: Thaksin’s homecoming bid may fall through without help from kingmaker
Prawit tipped to get more votes than any others for PM
Most Esaan constituents prefer Thaksin’s daughter for PM: Poll
Pheu Thai Party disagrees with bid to dissolve Palang Pracharath Party
Pheu Thai-Palang Pracharath coalition ‘impossible’ if Prayut endorsed for PM again
Thaksin encourages Prayut to live out House term, then go home for good
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