Pheu Thai appears to be getting close to commanding a majority in Thailand’s 500-seat House of Representatives House.
Pheu Thai gained momentum when the Bhumjaithai party, of Anutin Charnvirakul, which won 70 House seat, appeared at a joint press conference to declare that they would be at the core of forming the governing coalition.
Combined, the two parties initially commanded 212 House, plus another 16 held by the Prachachat, Thai Liberal, Chart Pattana Kla, Pheu Thai Rumphalang, Plung Sungkom Mai and Thongthee Thai parties, bringing the current total to 228.
On Thursday, the Chartthaipattana party, led by Varawut Silpa-archa, agreed to join the coalition, bringing the number to 238.
On the same day, Pheu Thai received the welcome news that 40 Palang Pracharath MPs are likely to vote in support of Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate.
One Palang Pracharath MP is Prawit Wongsuwan. This could mean that Prawit will effectively be supporting Pheu Thai’s candidate.
Pheu Thai, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation have been arch rivals for long time. Pheu Thai election campaigns focused on those it calls the “two uncles”; Prawit and Prayut Chan-o-cha, former core leader of United Thai Nation.
Both men have campaigned against Pheu Thai’s founder, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been in self-imposed exile since he was ousted by a coup in 2006.
Nonetheless, Prawit’s party voting for the Pheu Thai candidate could be a good news for all parties. According to Pai Leeke, a Palang Pracharath MP, there has been no discussion about Palang Pracharath joining the Pheu Thai-led coalition in a quid pro quo for their support.
With Palang Pracharath’s support, however, votes in favour of Pheu Thai’s candidate now stand at 278. That leaves them needing a further House 98 votes to ensure that the 250 seat Senate cannot vote the candidate down, as it is a joint vote by the House and Senate.
It may not be difficult to forecast that Prawit’s party will eventually end up in the coalition and later the government. There are report, however, claiming that Prawit will not take a position in Pheu Thai government, to ease tensions among Pheu Thai’s supporters.
While Palang Pracharath has not yet been approached to join the Pheu Thai coalition, according to Pai, United Thai Nation’s deputy leader Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana has admitted that Somsak Thepsuthin, a core Pheu Thai member, has invited his party to join.
He and Somsak, a former Justice minister in Prayut’s government, have been close and meet to play football frequently. Although now in different parties, they still talk about politics.
“Somsak told me that, if United Thai Nation wishes to join the coalition, all the MPs have to do so, not individuals. That is the signal he wanted to send. I am not in the negotiating circle, so I conveyed the message to the party leader. The decision will be his.” Thanakorn said.
Thanakorn expressed some confidence that the political stalemate will end soon and the country will have new prime minister at the appropriate time.
If United Thai Nation agrees to join the coalition, the number of votes would reach 314, which still 62 votes short of the 376 combined votes of both chambers needed for Pheu Thai’s candidate to become the next prime minister of Thailand.
