The question of whether Move Forward or Pheu Thai will get the House speakership is expected to be answered this week, Move Forward secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said today (Monday).

He thanked the Pheu Thai party for the moderation of its stance on this contentious issue, saying that it will help improve the atmosphere for negotiations, adding that core members of the two parties will meet this week to resolve this matter.

The Pheu Thai party appears to have backed off its demand for the House speakership.

Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday the party had previously insisted that it should get the House speakership, because the Move Forward party will take the prime minister’s post.

In order to resolve the matter, however, he said that the two parties have agreed that Move Forward party, which has won the most seats in the House, should take the speakership, while the Pheu Thai party should get the two deputy House speaker positions.

Chaithawat declined to disclose which of the party’s three candidates is likely to be named Speaker of the House.

He asked the media not to jump to the conclusion that the Pheu Thai party has agreed to drop its demand for the House speakership, because the Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat may lose out in his quest to become the prime minister.