21-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party announced on Monday that it had secured the support of 14 parties, including two aligned with its military adversaries, in its bid to lead the next government. This comes a day before the parliamentary vote to elect a new prime minister.
Thailand’s bicameral parliament has been deadlocked for weeks over the formation of a new government following the May 14 election, which was dominated by two former opposition parties: the winners, Move Forward, and the second-placed Pheu Thai.
In a resounding public rejection of nine years of royalist military-led or backed government, the two parties defeated their conservative, pro-army opponents. The military had previously ousted Pheu Thai governments in 2006 and 2014.
Real estate magnate Srettha Thavisin, representing the populist Pheu Thai, has garnered the backing of 14 parties for his candidacy as prime minister in Tuesday’s parliamentary vote, as confirmed by Phumtham Wechayachai, the deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party.
After an unsuccessful attempt by the progressive Move Forward party last month, Pheu Thai has taken the lead in forming the government. This move has faced staunch conservative resistance due to Pheu Thai’s anti-establishment agenda. Move Forward has made it clear that it will not support Pheu Thai’s multi-party effort, arguing that it distorts the election result and goes against the will of the public.
Srettha, a political newcomer at the age of 60, needs the support of 375 lawmakers, which represents over half of the combined upper and lower houses of parliament, to be endorsed as the prime minister and form the next government.
If successful, this would require winning over dozens of legislators who are aligned with the military. This fragile alliance between former adversaries raises concerns about potential political instability, given the country’s history of intermittent turmoil spanning over 15 years.
