Coalition partners get ready for PM vote

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE MOVE FORWARD-LED, eight coalition partners are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday as part of joint preparations for the upcoming Thursday’s historic vote for Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat.

Move Forward secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon confirmed today (July 8) the leaderships of the eight coalition partners led by the Move Forward will discuss and make preparations for the naming and voting of Pita for the country’s 30th prime minister during Thursday’s joint House/Senate session.

Apart from the Move Forward, most of the coalition partners were curious to know how many of the total 250 senators may have been so far lobbied by Pita and his partisan colleagues to cast yea votes for him, according to the Move Forward secretary-general.

Deputy Move Forward leader Sirikanya Tansakul and Chaithawat have earlier commented that they have already garnered adequate support from the unelected lawmakers in the first round of joint voting but declined to elaborate.

The coalition partners have repeatedly called on all the senators to observe the democratic consensus unambiguously manifested by a majority of voters in the May 14 election in which the Move Forward and Pheu Thai secured triumphs as the No.1 largest elected party and second largest one respectively.

Given a combined force of 312 MPs on his side, Pita will need at least 64 more yea votes from non-coalition MPs and senators to make it a minimum of 376 votes to take the helm of government as required by law.

The latest move led by the Move Forward was apparently made in response to sustained speculation that most of the senators will merely abstain from voting only to practically abort Pita’s rise to the elected premiership.

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether any of the non-coalition parties including the Palang Pracharath led by Prawit Wongsuwan and the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob may eventually name a partisan contender for prime minister in rivalry against Pita whose progressive camp has won most MP seats in last May’s nationwide election.

Given a speculated overwhelming support from the senators in addition to a combined force of 188 non-coalition MPs on his side, Prawit might possibly be named and voted prime minister who would practically head a minority government though many have ultimately voiced disapproval to it.

CAPTION:

Move Forward leader/prime minister-candidate Pita Limjaroenrat. Top photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: Thai Rath

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