17-7-2023 (BANGKOK) The leaders of eight prospective coalition parties in Thailand are set to meet on Monday to discuss their next move ahead of the second round of voting to select a prime minister on Wednesday. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the meeting was moved to Monday as some parties plan to hold their internal meetings on Tuesday. The source close to the matter said that if Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat is renominated for the second round of voting but fails to secure enough support to become the next prime minister, Pheu Thai may be allowed to lead the formation of the next government with the support of the other seven prospective coalition parties.
On Friday, Mr Pita said in a video clip on social media that he would step aside and allow Pheu Thai to take the lead in forming a government if he fails to secure enough support in parliament to become prime minister in the second round of voting.
Regarding the MFP’s plan to remove the Senate’s power in co-electing a prime minister by amending Section 272 of the constitution, Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said on Sunday that Pheu Thai and MFP have yet to reach an agreement on the matter. The issue will be raised again at Monday’s meeting.
If the MFP insists on renominating Mr Pita, it must explain how it plans to gather enough support for him, particularly from the 250 senators, in the second round of voting, according to Mr Phumtham. He added, “There must be a clear answer before the July 19 vote.”
Mr Pita failed to gather enough support in parliament to back his bid for premiership last Thursday, with Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, cited as the main reason why many senators refused to back his nomination as the MFP has repeatedly insisted on amending the law.
