Bangkok | Thur, August 10, 2023
Thailand’s Pheu Thai party announced on Wednesday it had the support of six more parties in its attempt to form a government, still short of the required backing, as the country remained in political deadlock nearly three months after an election.
After election winners Move Forward were prevented from forming a government by conservative legislators linked with the royalist military, Thailand has been operating under a caretaker administration for 142 days and is currently experiencing protracted uncertainty.
Pheu Thai, which came in second place and was a political powerhouse overthrown in coups in 2006 and 2014, withdrew its support for Move Forward last week, but it will be difficult to win over a parliament that the military has major sway over.
Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew stated at a news conference that the party hoped to reduce political splintering and win over senators, political parties, and all members of parliament.
The declaration follows the populist Pheu Thai’s victory over third-place Bhumjaithai, which had previously refused to support Move Forward due to its contentious proposal to modify a legislation that protects the monarchy from criticism.
Seven other parties back Pheu Thai, which was established by the wealthy Shinawatra family, but it’s not certain if it can win over the upper house Senate because it was chosen by the same army that ousted the party’s previous administration.
Members of both houses vote to determine who forms a government, which necessitates the backing of more than half of all MPs, in accordance with a military-written constitution intended to safeguard its political control.
Move Forward’s attempt to succeed was doomed by its anti-establishment ideology and challenge to traditional, old-money interests. Despite abandoning Move Forward, Pheu Thai stated that it still aimed to secure the support of its 150 lawmakers during a vote for prime minister that is anticipated to take place later this month.
Phumtham Wechayachai, vice head of Pheu Thai, said, “We will talk with Move Forward.