4-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the newly appointed House speaker, expressed uncertainty regarding the number of times the vote for the prime minister could be repeated if Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails to garner the necessary support on the initial attempt.
Before assuming the speaker’s post on Tuesday, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha stated that the eight coalition partners would back Mr. Pita. However, if he does not receive a majority vote from a combined sitting of Members of Parliament (MPs) and senators, his nomination could be subject to multiple repetitions.
The leader of the Pheu Thai Party, the primary partner of Move Forward in the coalition, further noted that the upcoming vote for the premier, expected to take place in approximately two weeks, could be highly unpredictable.
The coalition parties currently hold 312 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. To become a prime ministerial candidate, one must secure the combined support of a majority from the 500 MPs and 250 appointed senators, totaling 376 votes.
#ประชุมสภา 13.10h: As the votes for the first deputy House speaker between @MFPThailand’s @ongpadipat vs @utn_official’s Vittaya Kaewparadai are being counted, let’s take a look at the numbers between both sides: the MFP-led coalition should have a comfortable majority. pic.twitter.com/T6IXtoKbD9
— Saksith Saiyasombut (@SaksithCNA) July 4, 2023
Move Forward and its supporters have been striving to gather the additional 64 votes required by presenting their case to the senators. However, political analysts view this task as challenging due to the fact that all senators were appointed by the outgoing prime minister and former coup leader, Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The senators’ ranks include over 110 serving military and police officers, with most of the appointees tending to hold conservative views. Many have expressed reservations about Move Forward’s determination to amend the lese-majeste law.
When questioned by reporters about the course of action if Mr. Pita fails to secure victory in the initial vote, Mr. Wan Noor responded, “We need to determine the number of additional votes required and identify areas lacking support. Subsequent votes, one or two more times, will then be conducted to reassure Mr. Pita and Move Forward that the eight parties are committed to collaborating for Mr. Pita’s candidacy.”
If these repeated efforts prove unsuccessful, an agreement must be reached regarding the next steps, as the speaker cannot persistently push the same nomination, highlighted Mr. Wan Noor, whose Prachachat Party is a member of the coalition.
“Otherwise, MPs will be reluctant to attend meetings,” he cautioned. “Their absence would result in a lack of quorum. This cooperation must be based on mutual understanding. It is crucial for the eight parties to acknowledge wholeheartedly that they have exerted maximum effort. If we succeed, we will continue our work. Otherwise, we must identify the underlying cause.”
Speculation suggests that if repeated attempts to vote for Mr. Pita prove fruitless, Pheu Thai could be urged to present an alternative candidate.
Mr. Wan Noor emphasized that regardless of the outcome, Pheu Thai and Move Forward must remain united as they possess the majority of votes, totaling 292, in the House. “This will prevent the opposing side from having an opportunity to form the government,” he asserted.
On Tuesday, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew affirmed that members of the eight coalition partners would unanimously vote for the next prime minister. However, he acknowledged the difficulty in predicting parliamentary outcomes, particularly with regard to senators’ decisions.
