The ruling Pheu Thai party has made a last-minute offer, in what appears to be a desperate bid to win the support of the opposition People’s party for its prime ministerial candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri.
The party is fielding Chaikasem to compete against Anutin Charnvirakul, the candidate of the Bhumjaithai party, in a vote for the new prime minister at a special House sitting tomorrow.
The party stands no chance of winning, however, without the support of the People’s party, as its coalition’s simple majority in the House has diminished following the breakaway of the Kla Tham party and the defections of some of its MPs.
In his Facebook post today, Pheu Thai Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong wrote: “This is the last offer – Chaikasem as the prime minister and the House will be dissolved immediately after the delivery of the policy statement in parliament”.
Even though the name of People’s party was not mentioned, it is widely understood that Sorawong’s message was intended for the People’s party.
The People’s and Bhumjaithai parties have already signed an agreement, though, under which Bhumjaithai has agreed to accept the terms set by the People’s party in exchange for its crucial support for Anutin’s quest to become Thailand’s 32nd prime minister, succeeding Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai party.
The preconditions include a commitment to dissolve the House within 4 months of the delivery of the required policy statement to parliament by the new prime minister, the holding of a referendum to approve the drafting of a new charter by an elected assembly and that the Bhumjaithai must not seek to become a majority government.
Today, however, People’s party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu urged House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha to postpone the vote for the new prime minister from tomorrow, claiming that he would like to hear from Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai regarding whether his bid to dissolve the House is over or is ongoing.
It was widely reported yesterday that the Office of the Privy Council had rejected the government’s Royal decree draft, seeking the King’s consent to dissolve the House, but there has been no confirmation from the government about the veracity of those reports.
People’s party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut also called on Phumtham to state the latest position regarding the Royal decree on House dissolution, as he reasserted the party’s demand for House dissolution to pave the way for a snap general election.
He also expressed the party’s disagreement with the complaint, filed by some Bhumjaithai MPs with the police, accusing Phumtham of committing malfeasance in office by seeking Royal consent for House dissolution.
