The Pheu Thai party holds no grudge against the Move Forward party and they could work together in the same coalition government, on the condition that the Move Forward party will not seek to repeal Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lèse majesté law, said Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
She said that both parties have been working together in opposition over the past four years adding, however, that the party will have to wait for the election results on May 14th before there is a final decision.
The Pheu Thai party is aiming for a landslide election victory, in order to form a one-party government, but that chance is steadily diminishing as the Move Forward party is gaining ground, especially among young voters.
Paetongtarn and Srettha Thavisin, another prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai party, gave an interview via TikTok and Instagram Live yesterday (Monday). Both Paetongtarn and Srettha reiterated that the party’s political positions against dictatorship and parties associated with the military dictatorship, which is interpreted to mean the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties.
Srettha said that the Pheu Thai party wants to distance itself from all the talk about joining hands with the “dictatorial” parties, as it has its own policies which it believes can be realised.
Paetongtarn, meanwhile, said that the question about the formation of a new government will have to wait until the outcome of the election is known adding, however, that parties which join hands with Pheu Thai in forming a government must accept the party’s candidate as the next prime minister and must support the party’s policies.
Regarding the lèse majesté law, Paetongtarn noted that this is a sensitive issue that needs to be discussed in parliament, adding that the party will not seek to scrap the law, but may ask the court to show mercy to those jailed or detained on lèse majesté charges.
Controversial policies of the Move Forward party include a repeal of the lèse majesté law and the scrapping of mandatory military conscription.
