With time running out, and desperate to form a majority pro-democracy government, the Pheu Thai party has resorted to enlisting the help of Mr. Panthongtae Shinawatra, the only son of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin, to extend invitations to the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition.
Using Oak Panthongtae Shinawatra’s Facebook page, the Pheu Thai party reminded the Democrats of their previous public announcements about not supporting General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s continuation as prime minister and promise not to work with the pro-junta party.
The party also reminded the Bhumjaithai party of its pledge to work with the coalition which commands the majority vote in parliament.
The Pheu Thai party claims that the Palang Pracharat-led coalition managed to garner only slightly more than 120 MPs in the 500-member House, but has aspired to form the government with General Prayut as the prime minister.
To realize its ambition to be in government, the Palang Pracharat camp desperately needs the support of both the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties, but the best it can achieve is a government with a slim majority, said the Pheu Thai party.
If the two parties switch sides, however, the pro-democracy camp will command about 350 votes in the House to become a government with a comfortable majority, the party added.
“If power belongs to the people (not to ‘Loong Too’, Gen Prayut’s nick name), democracy will win and we will win together. If there is fear of the dictatorship, however, there was no point in holding an election, that cost more than five billion baht, because the voice of the people cannot bring about any changes and Thailand will have a weak government with slim majority,” said the party in its statement.
