All eyes on Pheu Thai ahead of election for new PM on Thursday

BANGKOK, Thailand - All eyes are on Thailand's Pheu Thai Party, which is now leading the coalition of eight parties in the bid to form a government as the Parliament sits again on Thursday to elect a new prime minister.

Pheu Thai, the second largest party in the coalition with 141 seats, takes over the responsibility after Pita Limjaroenrat of Move Forward Party (MPF) failed to muster enough support on July 13 to be elected as the new prime minister.

A procedural vote six days later ruled that he could not be nominated a second time, ending his quest to be prime minister.

The coalition - made up of MFP, Pheu Thai, Prachachat, Thai Sang Thai, Pheu Thai Rumphlang, Thai Liberal Party, Fair Party, and Plung Sungkom Mai - collectively secured 312 seats of the 500-seat House of Representatives.

It needs additional support to secure the necessary 375 votes of the 749-member bicameral Parliament to form a government.

However, the coalition is facing a mighty challenge, as some other political parties have refused to support it.

At present, there are at least four parties that have announced that they will not join the Pheu Thai-led coalition as long as Thailand's election-winning MFP is in the pact.

They are Bhumjaithai Party, which won 71 seats, Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) (40), United Thai Nation (UTN) (36) and Chart Thai Pattana (10).

Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin Charnvirakul said the party will not join any government that includes the MFP due to the latter's campaign promise to amend Article 112, or the lese-majeste law.

"Bhumjaithai Party will not work with a party that has a policy to amend Article 112 of Criminal Code. We also do not support a minority government.

"It is clear that the MFP is the only party that has proposed to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code, and it has no intention of backing off,” he said, adding that Pheu Thai has yet to approach the party.

Meanwhile, UTN party leader Peeraphan Salirathaviphak said his party will not join the Pheu Thai-led coalition or support its prime ministerial candidate if the MFP is part of the coalition.

"UTN does not believe that the MFP will change its political ideology, as evidenced by its past political activities.

"When the Parliament meet to vote (for the) next prime minister, if the MFP remains in the coalition, UTN will not vote for a candidate of this bloc,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Meanwhile, PPRP MP Phai Lik has stated that his party is opposed to any attempt to amend the lese-majeste law, and will not join a coalition that includes MFP.

Chart Thai Pattana leader, Varawut Silpa-archa said that his party will vote for Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate if the coalition does not work with any party that has pledged to amend the lese-majeste law.

Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said yesterday the party will seek additional support from the 250-member military-appointed senate as well as parties outside the coalition.

Pheu Thai Party registered three names for its prime ministerial candidates: real estate magnate Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party's chief strategist.

The 60-year-old Srettha, who only entered active politics last year, is highly anticipated to be the party’s nominee for the country’s chief executive post. - BERNAMA