Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that the government coalition lineup has been finalised, with the main partners being the Bhumjaithai Party and the Pheu Thai Party, along with several smaller parties.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Pheu Thai executives on Thursday, Bhumjaithai leader Anutin said the coalition had enough parliamentary support and did not need to include additional parties such as the Klatham Party or the Democrat Party.
Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat and deputy leaders Chousak Sirinil and Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol were present at the press conference.
Mr Anutin said the number of coalition MPs was already at an appropriate level to ensure effective administration in parliament, adding that the coalition did not seek to form an oversized government with more than 300 seats.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, greets Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat at the Bhumjaithai headquarters in Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo:Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
The Pheu Thai leader and the two deputy leaders on Thursday submitted the name of their candidate for the position of deputy House speaker to Bhumjaithai.
The move comes ahead of the royal ceremony to formally open the parliamentary session on March 14. After the opening, the House of Representatives is expected to convene its first meeting to vote for the House speaker and two deputy speakers.
Mr Anutin said Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai would jointly nominate candidates for all three positions -the House speaker and two deputies - for parliamentary approval.
He declined to reveal the names of the nominees, saying it would be inappropriate to disclose them before the formal process.
Asked about the qualifications required for the House speaker, he said the candidate should have knowledge, experience and, ideally, seniority, as well as respect from fellow MPs and familiarity with parliamentary rules and laws.
When asked whether the coalition had secured the support of 291 MPs, Mr Anutin replied “Around that figure.”
He also dismissed speculation that parties outside the coalition could later be invited to join even if they supported the prime ministerial vote, reiterating that the coalition lineup had already been settled.
Mr Julapun confirmed that Pheu Thai had already submitted its nominee for deputy House speaker to Mr Anutin, but said the party would not disclose the name until Sunday.
He also declined to confirm whether the nominee was Loei MP Lertsak Phattanachaiyakul, saying the announcement would follow the official process.
On the cabinet lineup, Mr Anutin said discussions so far only concerned the deputy House speaker position and that cabinet posts had not yet been discussed because the prime minister has not been elected.
Mr Julapun added that Pheu Thai had not yet finalised its list of ministerial nominees. The process would proceed step by step, starting with the election of the House speaker and deputy speakers, followed by talks on cabinet structure and nominations.
When asked whether he had phoned Capt Thamanat Prompow, advisory chairman of the Klatham Party, regarding coalition matters, Mr Anutin said he had not spoken with Capt Thamanat.
Asked how he felt about a former ally becoming the opposition, he admitted: “I don’t like the feeling, but there are reasons. We can’t force it. Friendship and bonds still exist, but we now have different duties. That’s politics. Today, Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai are working together.”
When asked why a party that supported Bhumjaithai from the beginning was not included, he replied:
“I’m not saying we chose or didn’t choose anyone. We simply don’t want a government with over 300 votes.”
The party apparently referred to Klatham as Capt Thamanat, de facto leader of the party, supported Bhumjaithai to form the government last year.
