The election-winning Move Forward Party will not support Pheu Thai Party’s bid to form the next coalition government or its nomination for Srettha Thavisin as the next prime minister.
“The formation of the government now is not reflective of the people’s voice,” Move Forward Party sec-gen Chaithawat Tulathon said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “It is clear that senators and other parties want to shut Move Forward down.”
Pheu Thai said it would nominate business tycoon Srettha Thavisin as their prime minister candidate. Move Forward said during yesterday’s press conference it would not support the party’s nomination because they do not want to support a coalition that does not seek to remove the senate from the prime minister selection process, stating this new coalition would be playing into the senate’s hands.
The MFP, which won the May elections followed by Pheu Thai in second place, attempted to form a coalition government last month. That alliance fell apart after two rounds of parliamentary voting had the military-backed senate rejected Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroerat’s prime ministerial bid.
With Move Forward no longer part of its newly formed coalition, the Pheu Thai Party now draws support from conservative parties.
Last week, Pheu Thai announced it would form a coalition with the following parties: Bhumjaithai, Prachachart, Pheu Thai Ruam Palang, Chartpattanakla, Chartthaipattana, Seri Ruam Thai, Palang Sangkhom Mai and The Thongtee Thai Party
The alliance brings together a total of 238 House seats out of 500, just shy of the 251 needed to form a majority.
In early August, Pheu Thai broke off its alliance with Move Forward and its seven other parties because they said Move Forward insisted on amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, which many of the MP’s and military-backed senate opposed.
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