By Thai Newsroom Reporters
BHUMJAITHAI LEADER ANUTIN Charnvirakul today (June 26) categorically ruled out the possibility of a minority government with dozens of MPs to be bought out at a later date from the current coalition partners.
Anutin reconfirmed that the Bhumjaithai as the third largest elected party with 71 MPs will definitely not try to conduct such unbecoming ploys to form a minority government and steal power from the coalition partners led by the Move Forward with 151 MPs and the Pheu Thai with 141 MPs.
Only “a buffalo” would ever offer to hand out as much as 100 million baht in kickback to each of an estimated 60 coalition MPs in bid to turn a minority government into a majority one at a later date, according to the Bhumjaithai leader who said there will be no more “cobras” at parliament as had been the case in several past years.
In Thai jargon, “buffalo” refers to a very stupid person whilst “cobra” means an unreliable, bribe-taking MP who could possibly sway votes or switch parties in exchange for a huge payoff.
The Bhumjaithai leader said he was honestly encouraging the eight coalition partners to establish an elected government and Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat to run the country as head of government and that he has seen no sign of a looming failure on the part of the Move Forward-led coalition partners.
Anutin apparently made his comments in response to sustained speculation that Pita might probably muster less than adequate support for him to take the helm of government from among MPs and senators in a joint House/Senate meeting.
Pita will need yea votes from more than half the combined total of 500 MPs and 250 senators or at least 376 votes whilst most of the unelected lawmakers are more or less speculated to abstain from voting only to abort his rise to the elected premiership, however.
Given such a scenario, a minority government might possibly be formed with either Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan or de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss Prayut Chan-o-cha being named prime minister.
Either Prawit or Prayut would merely need some 126 votes from the non-coalition MPs, given overwhelming support from the 250 senators, all of whom had been handpicked by the both of them following the 2014 coup staged by the latter as army chief.
Both Prawit, the leader of the fourth largest elected party with 40 MPs, and Prayut, the de facto boss of the fifth largest camp with 36 MPs, had contested in vain for prime minister in the May 14 nationwide election.
The joint House/Senate session is largely expected in the second week of next month, following the first House meeting scheduled for July 3 to pick a House speaker and a couple of deputy House speakers.
CAPTIONS:
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, right in above photo and left on Front Page photo, accompanied by Saksayam Chidchon, the party’s secretary-general. Both photos: Matichon
Also read: Korn, Worawut quit after party gets less than 10 seats in election
June 24 to be declared National Day once and for all: Rangsiman
Move Forward, Pheu Thai to hold final talks on House speaker seat
Chuan: Party with most MPs should get House speaker post
All Pheu Thai MPs urged to follow party’s resolution on House Speaker seat
Chonlanan spurns offers of House Speaker seat
Prayut starts packing to leave Govt House
Pita catches Covid for the third time, coalition talks put off
Rumours over Bhumjaithai being brought into coalition govt dismissed
Palang Pracharath MPs poised to ‘play by the rules’ in picking PM
One Reply to “Anutin rules out possibility of minority govt”