A pro-military party affiliated with outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says it has agreed to join a coalition led by the populist Pheu Thai party in an attempt to form Thailand’s next government after a three-month stalemate.
The progressive Move Forward Party was the surprise winner of the May election, but its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, failed to secure a majority of votes from the elected House and the conservative appointed Senate, chosen by the Prayuth-led military government, needed to become prime minister. Many senators voted against Pita because of his party’s call for reform of a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand’s royal family.
United Thai Nation spokesperson Akaradej Wongpitakroj said Thursday that it has agreed to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition to break the impasse and “move the country forward.” He said the party’s condition of joining the coalition is that there must not be a party with a policy to amend the royal defamation law in the government.
Before United Thai Nation’s announcement, Pheu Thai had cobbled together a coalition of 11 parties with 240 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. The 36 additional seats from the military-backed party would give it the House majority it needs. However, it still needs some support from the unelected Senate. Move Forward has said it will not support a candidate from a Pheu Thai-led coalition that includes parties from the outgoing military-backed government.
Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties affiliated with ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire populist who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. While Thaksin-backed parties thrived at the polls, none of his successors was able to stay in office for long due to legal challenges in the courts, which are firmly aligned with the conservative establishment that has long held a sharp animosity toward Thaksin, and destabilizing street protests engineered by his foes.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Thailand's Pheu Thai gain backing from rival party to form governmentPrevious Pheu Thai governments have been ousted by military coups in 2006 and 2014, when the party's interests clashed with the country's powerful old money elites and royalist military.
Weiterlesen »
Pheu Thai gain backing from rival party to form governmentThailand's Pheu Thai Party on Thursday gained support from a rival military-backed party, potentially boosting it in its bid to form a government ahead of a prime ministerial vote in parliament next week.
Weiterlesen »
Court throws out election-winner Pita's thwarted bid to become Thailand PMThe Pheu Thai party of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, which came second in the polls, is potentially set to lead a multi-party coalition government.
Weiterlesen »
Thai Green Mango Salad (Som Tum Mamuang)This Thai green mango salad recipe makes splendid use of tart unripened fruit, fiery chiles, and crunchy peanuts, with citrusy and delightfully pungent results.
Weiterlesen »
Thai court rejects election winners' challenge to derailed PM bidThailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday rejected a request from the election winning Move Forward Party to review a parliamentary decision that blocked its prime ministerial candidate from being re-nominated.
Weiterlesen »
King's estranged sons say they hope to return soon after surprise Thailand visit fuels speculationTwo estranged sons of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn said Monday they hoped to return to the country soon after an unexpected visit that has fueled speculation among many in the kingdom.
Weiterlesen »