Thailand's Palang Pracharath seeks allies for coalition government

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Thailand's Palang Pracharath (Power of People's State) Party on Monday invited Bhumjaithai (Proud Thais) Party and Democrat Party to join a coalition government with current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its head.

Palang Pracharath leader Uttama Savanayana and secretary general Sontirat Sontijirawong visited the Bhumjaithai headquarters after the invitation to join the coalition, which is being formed with the Palang Pracharath Party at its core and Prayut as head of an elected government.

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The two parties would give the pro-army coalition a slim majority in the House of Representatives.

A press statement from the Bhumjaithai Party said the party accepted the invitation, but its leader Anutin Charnvirakul said the Bhumjaithai and Palang Pracharath parties are yet to hold talk on policy matters pertaining to the people's hand-to-mouth situation.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul (L), Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanavisit (2nd L) and Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (2nd R) as they attend the opening of parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, May 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"We invited two parties, but did not expect a conclusion today," Uttama told reporters. "We understand there are internal processes, but it was a very good starting point."

Uttama, Sontirat and veteran MP Somsak Thepsuthin, head of the so-called Sammit (three friends) Group which is a faction of the party, also visited the Democrat Party headquarters to invite the party to join in the coalition on Monday.

The Palang Pracharath leader commented that policies launched by the Democrat Party and his party were found to be "going in the same directions."

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha speaks at a news conference on the Fourth Year Performance Report at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, February 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

Democrat secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on said a decision on such invitation will be made shortly by his party's executive board and MPs. He said both parties will hold talk again very soon.

The Palang Pracharath-led coalition might consist of as many as 20 parties, a dozen of which has only one MP each while the Palang Pracharath has 115 MPs, the Democrat has 52 MPs and the Bhumjaithai has 51 MPs.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party won the most seats in the 500-member House of Representatives but its Democratic Front coalition did not gain a majority when final results were announced.

(Cover: Uttama Savanayana, Palang Pracharat Party leader talks to reporters after meeting with the Democrat party leader in Bangkok, Thailand, May 27, 2019. /Reuters)

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency