By Thai Newsroom Reporters
ANUTIN CHARNVIRAKUL today (March 19) secured overwhelming votes to prolong his rule as elected prime minister who is heading a Bhumjaithai-led coalition government following last month’s general election.
During a House of Representatives meeting, a total of 293 coalition lawmakers led by Bhumjaithai MPs cast yea votes on a roll call basis for Anutin for prime minister whilst 119 People’s MPs cast yea votes for People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut and 86 other legislators, most of whom are the Klatham and Democrat MPs, abstained from voting.
The prime minister-designate has performed as caretaker prime minister-cum-interior minister since he dissolved the House last December to call the nationwide election in which the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai, core of the potential coalition government, emerged as the largest elected party under guidance of de facto party boss Newin Chidchob whilst the reformist People’s came out as the second largest party and the neo-conservative Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra as the third largest camp.
Attached to the Bhumjaithai-led coalition are a dozen splinter parties most of whom have only one or a few MPs each in addition to the Pheu Thai, altogether making a combined army of 291 coalition MPs, compared to a divided force of 209 opposition MPs.
The Klatham, the fourth largest elected party under de facto party boss Thammanat Prompao, may be considered as part of the opposition bloc for the time being but the ultra-conservative camp are more or less speculated to be brought onto the bandwagon of the Bhumjaithai-led government in place of Thaksin’s camp at any given time in the future. So are the Old School conservative Democrats, the fifth largest elected party led by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The Anutin II cabinet, expected to be officially named between later this month and early next, will likely consist of 36 ministers including the prime minister to meet the maximum number provided by law though some may assume more than one ministerial seat in concurrent fashion. The newly-named prime minister will likely keep the seat of interior minister to himself in concurrent fashion.
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Top and Front Page – Anutin Charnvirakul attending the House meeting today (March 19) where he was voted to prolong his rule as elected prime minister. Photos – Amarin TV
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