15-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), acknowledged that the country cannot wait much longer for a new government. If he is unable to overcome Senate opposition to his bid for prime minister, he believes that his coalition partner, Pheu Thai, should be given the opportunity.
Mr. Pita expressed this sentiment on his official Twitter account on Saturday, as the eight coalition parties prepare for a meeting on Tuesday to discuss their next steps. The primary topic of discussion will revolve around the possibility of renominating Mr. Pita as the prime ministerial candidate in parliament on Wednesday, following his failure to secure a majority in the initial attempt on Thursday.
“We have a few remaining chances to fight together in two battles that will lead to the successful establishment of a government based on public opinion,” Mr. Pita wrote.
“The first battle is the vote for prime minister on July 19, and the second is the proposed amendment to Section 272 of the constitution, which aims to limit the power of senators in choosing the prime minister indefinitely.”
“Both battles will only be successful if we can change the minds of the senators to be on the side of the people.”
“If we give our all in these two battles and it becomes clear that the progressive party does not have a real chance to lead the formation of a government, I am ready to pave the way for the Pheu Thai Party to take the lead in establishing a coalition government of eight parties, as per the memorandum of understanding we made together.”
“All representatives of the Move Forward Party are prepared to support prime ministerial candidates from the Pheu Thai Party.”
“But until that day comes, we will not give up.”
On Friday night, key figures from Pheu Thai and Move Forward engaged in talks to discuss the second round of voting and evaluate the situation. According to a source within the eight-party coalition, MFP representatives, including secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon and deputy leaders Picharn Chaowapatanawon and Sirikanya Tansakul, met with Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai, and secretary-general Prasert Chantarauangthong. The discussions lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
During the meeting, the MFP and Pheu Thai strategists addressed concerns raised by some parliamentarians regarding the possibility of repeating the same motion on Wednesday. They also assessed the potential actions of the senators at the next meeting and discussed whether parties from the outgoing government might nominate a prime ministerial candidate. The source noted that no decision was made regarding the coalition’s renomination of Mr. Pita, pending further discussions with other coalition partners.
Reportedly, Pheu Thai disagreed with Move Forward’s proposal to amend Section 272 of the constitution, which aims to curtail the power of military-appointed senators in co-selecting the prime minister. The task of passing such an amendment would be challenging, as it would require at least 84 votes from the Senate.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party and one of the eight coalition allies, expressed skepticism about attempting to change Section 272, considering it futile and potentially perceived as a self-serving move by the MFP. He mentioned that, for Wednesday’s vote, anyone could be nominated since there are no specific regulations governing the process. Parliamentarians could even nominate figures like Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the prime ministerial candidate of the Palang Pracharath Party, or Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who had previously announced his retirement from politics but remains the United Nation Party’s prime ministerial candidate on record.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth believes that Mr. Pita’s chances of victory are slim. He dismissed the possibility of the coalition changing its strategy by selecting Pheu Thai candidates Srettha Thavisin or Paetongtarn Shinawatra, affirming that Pheu Thai would continue to offer its full support to the MFP. However, if the July 19 vote fails to produce a prime minister, “the two parties have to hold talks about whether MFP will step back so Pheu Thai can nominate its candidate,” he stated.
“Although there may be a change in the nomination, Pheu Thai would still maintain its alliance with the MFP. They have repeatedly stated their commitment to staying together. If they fail to honor their promise, they cannot maintain the relationship. The two parties must continue engaging in constant discussions,” added Pol Gen Sereepisuth.
Some political analysts have suggested that even Pheu Thai may face resistance from senators if the party remains in an alliance with Move Forward. Much of the opposition to Mr. Pita is linked to his party’s desire to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese-majeste law.
Ultimately, Pol Gen Sereepisuth acknowledged that Pheu Thai might have to form a government with Bhumjaithai, the Democrats, or other parties to secure the 376 votes necessary for their candidate. However, he emphasized that even if Move Forward ends up in the opposition, they should still support the formation of a Pheu Thai-led government to facilitate future collaboration.
