Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai party leader, is day-dreaming with his claim that he has secured sufficient support to form a coalition government, in competition with the Pheu Thai party.
Phumtham, who was formally appointed caretaker prime minister today, to fill the position left by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from office yesterday by the Constitutional Court, said he wonders whether the Bhumjaithai party has actually secured the support of the opposition People party.
The People party has set three conditions for its support for Bhumjaithai, which include dissolution of parliament no more than four months after the new prime minister delivers the policy statement, followed by a general election, the holding of a referendum to approve constitutional amendments and that the People party will not join the new government.
A rebel faction of the United Thai Nation party, led by Suchart Chomklin, has agreed to partner with Bhumjaithai, while the Kla Tham party, which is in the Pheu Thai coalition government, is yet formally to announced its support for Bhumjaithai.
Phumtham said that he cannot yet provide a timeframe for the formation of a new Pheu Thai-led government adding, however, that his caretaker Cabinet will continue to work as usual.
He also insisted that, as caretaker prime minister, he has the power to dissolve parliament, but that it is not an urgent issue.
Conversely, the Council of State has made clear that a caretaker prime minister is not empowered to dissolve parliament, claiming that it is the exclusive prerogative of the prime minister.
