The Pheu Thai party announced this afternoon (Wednesday) that it is breaking from the Move Forward party to form its own coalition government and nominate Srettha Thavisin for selection as the prime minister of Thailand.

The announcement came shortly after a failed meeting between core members of Pheu Thai and Move Forward, aimed at resolving the thorny issue of Move Forward’s stand on amendment of the lèse majesté law, which was used as a pretext by many senators and MPs to withhold support for prime ministerial candidates from the Move Forward or Pheu Thai parties.

The meeting started at about 9.30am at the Pheu Thai party head office, during which Pheu Thai core members asked the Move Forward party to backtrack on its policy to amend the lèse majesté law, so that the Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate can receive support from senators and MPs.

Move Forward’s core members refused to budge on the party’s stand, said the source.

Pheu Thai was represented by party leader Chonlanan Srikaew, deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai and Secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong. Move Forward party was represented by Secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon, Sirikanya Tansakul and deputy leader Phicharn Chaowapatanawong.

In the statement, the Pheu Thai party also announced that it will not support any attempt to amend the lèse majesté law and that the Move Forward party will not be included in a coalition government led by Pheu Thai.

The party has, however, vowed to push for constitutional amendments, blaming some provisions in the law for the delay in the formation of the government and for causing political crises. It said that charter amendments will be treated as part of the national agenda and will be raised at the first meeting of the new cabinet, to be followed by the formation of a charter-drafting assembly and a referendum to approve the amended charter.

The party said that a Pheu Thai-led government would push for several policies mentioned in the memorandum of understanding between the eight coalition parties, which are also in line with the party’s policies, such as marriage equality, the progressive liquor law, reform of the police, the military and the judicial system, decentralisation of governance, replacement of mandatory conscription with voluntary enlistment and the scrapping of all forms of monopoly.

Concerning the parliament joint sitting this Friday to select the prime minister, Chonlanan said that it was agreed at the meeting this morning that Move Forward has the right to vote or not to vote for Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate.

As for votes from the senators, he said the Pheu Thai party has made its sand on the lèse majesté issue clear and that Move Forward will not be a part of the coalition government.

He also said that he has clearly explained to the Move Forward core members the necessity for them to part with Move Forward, so that it will be able to form a government quickly.

The eight coalition parties were Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Prachachat, Thai Sang Thai, Thai Liberal, Fair, Plung Sungkom Mai, and Pheu Thai Rumphlang.