MPs, senators likely to decide whether to give Pita a second chance for PM

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

LAWMAKERS WILL LIKELY engage in floor debate during tomorrow’s joint House/Senate meeting and then decide whether to give Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat a second chance of being named and voted for one.

Whether or not Pita will be given a second chance tomorrow might probably depend on a majority of MPs and senators to decide either to endorse or oppose his being named prime minister again, according to Pheu Thai Chonlanan leader Chonlanan Srikaew.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said legislators may hold floor debate for a couple of hours during tomorrow’s joint session before making such a decision as to whether to give Pita a second chance or not.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai leader said his party will likely manage to add a few more parties to a combined force of eight coalition partners only if the Move Forward gives up on being their core.

Chonlanan declined to name names of a few other parties which could probably be added to the eight coalition partners with the Move Forward currently acting as their core.

Speculated to be invited to join a possible Pheu Thai-led coalition are the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob and the Chart Thai Pattana, headed by Varawut Silpa-archa.

Given the possible roles of a core of an extended coalition, the Pheu Thai would need yea votes from a fewer number of senators, compared to as many as 64 being sought by the Move Forward from among the unelected legislators, most of whom  apparently manifested their anti-Pita stands and either did not attend last week’s joint session or abstained from voting or downright voted against him.

Chonlanan made his comments a day prior to tomorrow’s second round of voting for a prime minister in the joint House/Senate meeting during which Pita may be named again after he failed to make it last week.

Under the coup junta-designed constitution, a prime minister is required to get yea votes from more than half the combined total of MPs and senators or at least 375 votes but Pita only got 324 votes in the first round of voting last week.

Meanwhile, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai boss/deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, today lended solid support for Settha Taweesin to be named and voted prime minister in place of Pita.

Paetongtarn, Settha and former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri are a trio of Pheu Thai partisan contestants for prime minister.

But Chonlanan maintained that Settha will only be named prime minister if the Move Forward leader is not being named and voted tomorrow and that the Pheu Thai candidate will likely take his turn next week.

CAPTIONS:

Move Forward leader/prime minister designate-Pita Limjaroenrat talking to reporters today. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon

First insert: Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew. Photo: Matichon

Second insert: Settha Taweesin. Photo: Thai Rath

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