The Bhumjaithai party announced Wednesday that it will not support Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as Thailand’s next prime minister over the lèse majesté law issue, but will protect the Monarchy.
In a statement issued today to confirm the party’s stance on the law, they also said that they will not partner with the Move Forward party in the formation of a coalition government, because the party’s policy is to amend or repeal the law.
The statement has effectively quietened any speculation that the party may join the coalition, which would have given Pita the 376 votes needed to make him Thailand’s 30th prime minister without support from the Senate.
The statement does not, however, name the Move Forward party or Pita, but it is clearly understood that it refers to both of them.
In the statement, the Bhumjaithai party claimed that it is under pressure to support the prime ministerial candidate of the party which seeks to amend or abrogate the lèse majesté law.
Such pressure will not, however, make the party change its position, according to the statement.
Even if the Move Forward party manages to pull together a coalition government, the statement said that the Bhumjaithai party will try its best to protect the monarchy and to check the performance of the new government to protect public interest.
The Bhumjaithai party also called on the potential coalition of the liberal wing, led by Move Forward, to respect the voice of minority, in line with democratic rule, instead of putting pressure on opposing parties to submit to their demands.
The party claims that the more than five million voters who supported the party want it to do its duty and protect the monarchy.
