Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul is expected to secure overwhelming support for the premiership in a vote on Thursday, with the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) preparing to join the coalition.
Attention has also turned to the Klatham Party amid reports some of its MPs may back Mr Anutin in the vote on Thursday when the House of Representatives convenes to select the prime minister.
Under the charter, a prime ministerial candidate must be from a list submitted to the Election Commission by parties holding at least 5% of seats in the House. Based on this requirement, only four parties are eligible to nominate a candidate: the BJT, the People’s Party (PP), Pheu Thai and the Klatham Party.
Bhumjaithai has secured support from Pheu Thai to back Mr Anutin for a second term, while the People’s Party is expected to nominate its leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, for the post.
Klatham is unlikely to put forward its chief adviser, Capt Thamanat Prompow, as it seeks to maintain a neutral position, possibly leaving the door open for joining the government in the future.
Stithorn Thananithichot, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said the Klatham Party is more likely to vote for Mr Anutin rather than abstain to show it still maintains goodwill and friendly ties, even if it is not invited to join the government.
He said the prime ministerial vote carries higher stakes than the House Speaker vote, in which Klatham MPs abstained but could still be seen as maintaining goodwill. “Supporting Mr Anutin would also be a strategic move to avoid criticism of internal division if some party MPs break ranks, while shifting pressure onto the BJT,” he added.
Mr Anutin is expected to receive 292 votes of support — 191 from his party, 74 from Pheu Thai, five each from the Palang Pracharath Party and the Prachachat, three from the Economic Party, and two each from Pheu Chart Thai, UTN and Thai Sang Thai and the remainder from smaller parties.
United Thai Nation the latest to join the government following the resignation of Pirapan Salirathavibhaga as a party-list MP to allow Atavit Suwanpakdee to enter parliament.
UTN, originally created as a vehicle for former coup leader and prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to contest the 2023 election, won 36 seats in 2023 but was reduced to just 2 MPs in the Feb 8 poll.
If Klatham MPs back Mr Anutin, his support in the prime ministerial vote could exceed 300 votes.
Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat said on Wednesday the party has decided to endorse Mr Anutin as prime minister. The Democrat Party has decided to abstain from the vote.
Cabinet positions
Meanwhile, the cabinet line-up in Bhumjaithai is said to be close to completion, with the party begin checking the qualifications of its ministerial candidates and preparing a reserve list in case any fail to meet requirements.
Mr Anutin is also expected to double as interior minister, with Worasit Liangprasit, Jeseth Thaised and Polpi Suwanchawee tipped as deputy ministers. Songsak Thongsri is expected to be named a deputy prime minister, ending his run as deputy interior minister in four governments.
Deputy Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Bunthamcharoen is tipped to be the defence minister while Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat is speculated to retain the post.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is tipped to retain the Transport Ministry and government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat is expected to be one of his deputies.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun are expected to retain their posts with no deputies appointed in order to allow them to work at full capacity without political interference.
Other key posts include Borwornsak Uwanno as Deputy Prime Minister, Chaichanok Chidchob (Digital Economy and Society), Akanat Promphan (Energy) and Varawut Silpa-archa (Industry).
Coalition parties have been allocated five ministries and nine positions including five ministerial posts that also carry deputy prime minister roles, three deputy minister posts and the second deputy House speaker position.
The ministries allocated are Agriculture and Cooperatives, Education; Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; Labour; and Social Development and Human Security.
