Six-party coalition govt in the making: Pita

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

MOVE FORWARD LEADER PITA Limjaroenrat confirmed today (May 15) a six-party coalition government with the Move Forward as its core and himself as prime minister is currently in the making.

Given the Move Forward surprise victory in yesterday’s general election, Pita told reporters at the Move Forward headquarters that contacts have been informally made between the leadership of the Move Forward and those of the five other parties for the tentative setting up of a Move Forward-led coalition government with a combined total of 310 MPs on their side.

In addition to the Move Forward which has 152 MPs, the other coalition partners include the Pheu Thai with 141 MPs, the Prachachart with 9 MPs, the Thai Sang Thai with 6 MPs, the Thai Liberal with one MP and the Fair Party with one MP.

It remains to be seen whether any of the 250 senators will vote for Pita as prime minister in a joint House/Senate session whilst the Move Forward leader suggested that all the unelected lawmakers never do anything against the will of a prevailing majority of voters undeniably manifested in the results of yesterday’s general election.

A partisan candidate for head of a post-election government needs yea votes from more than half the total of MPs and senators combined or at least 376 votes to be successfully named one.

All the senators had been handpicked by Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan and coup junta leader-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha following the 2014 coup.

Prawit has earlier said he ultimately opposes the setting up of a minority government despite the likelihood of being given yea votes from the unelected senators.

The Palang Pracharath leader apparently responded to speculation that Prayut who contested to retain power under the Ruam Thai Sang Chart banners may have contemplated setting up a minority government, given yea votes from a minimum of 126 MPs plus a majority of the senators to steal the premiership from the Move Forward leader.

Meanwhile, Jurin Laksanavisit has today resigned as Democrat leader due to the conservative party’s crushing defeat in the nationwide election.

Jurin has called it quits as Democrat leader to take responsibility with immediate effect for the electoral defeat of the country’s oldest party.

The Democrats won 25 MPs, consisting of 22 in constituency-based mode and three, including Jurin himself and former House speaker Chuan Leekpai, in party-listed mode.

Abhisit Vejjajiva had earlier resigned as Democrat leader, albeit for a different reason, following the 2019 election.

CAPTIONS:

Top and Front Page: Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat. Both photos: Thai Rath

First insert: Pheu Thai leaders former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra and real estate tycoon Settha Taweesin. Photo: Matichon

Second insert: Jurin Laksanavisit resigning as Democrat Party leader. Photo: Thai Rath

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