News

Thailand’s populist Pheu Thai Party has announced that it has the backing of 14 parties, including two that are allied with its former military rivals, in its bid to lead the next government. The announcement comes as Pheu Thai founder and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra prepares to return to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile.

Pheu Thai is expected to nominate real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin as the country’s next leader. Despite coming second in Thailand’s May 14 election, the party took over the formation of government after conservative members of an unelected upper house blocked attempts by the progressive Move Forward party, which won the election, to secure the top job for their candidate.

To be endorsed as prime minister and form the next government, Srettha will need the support of 375 legislators, or more than half of the combined upper and lower houses of parliament. Phumtham Wechayachai, Pheu Thai’s deputy leader, stated that Srettha has the backing of 14 parties, including the United Thai Nation party affiliated with outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Palang Pracharat party of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

The coalition backing Srettha currently has 317 votes in the lower house, but he will need an additional 58 legislators to be named prime minister. Move Forward party has stated that it will not support Pheu Thai’s multiparty effort, claiming that it distorts the election result and goes against the will of the public. Survey results also indicate that the majority of Thais disagree with Pheu Thai’s plan for a coalition government that includes parties linked to the military.

Pheu Thai has apologized for failing to uphold its election pledge of not joining the military parties. Thaksin’s planned return to Thailand on Tuesday is not related to politics, according to his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Thaksin, a former prime minister who has lived in Dubai to avoid a jail sentence, still faces the potential of prison time. His return coincides with the parliamentary vote for prime minister, indicating his confidence in Pheu Thai’s candidate being elected.

The post Pheu Thai Party Gains Support of 14 Parties in Bid to Form Next Government appeared first on ISP Today.