(Bangkok, 23rd Comprehensive Report) The coalition government led by Thailand's Bhumjaithai Party has basically been finalized, with the new government set to control 300 seats in the House of Representatives.
Although it failed to persuade the Move Forward Party to join and form a strong government with a two-thirds majority in parliament, Bhumjaithai Party believes that a new government supported by 300 MPs is already sufficiently stable.
The Bangkok Post quoted sources as saying that the new government led by Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin will have the party with its 193 House seats as the core, and will include Pheu Thai Party with 74 seats, as well as other smaller parties totaling 33 seats, forming a total of 300 seats.
The opposition camp includes the People’s Party with 118 seats, the Move Forward Party (58 seats), Democrat Party (22 seats), and Thai Nation Building Party (2 seats), totaling 200 seats.
However, caretaker Prime Minister Anutin, when asked on Saturday (Feb 21), said that they are still waiting for the election commission to officially certify the election results and have yet to start cabinet formation, stressing that “negotiations will only take place after the dust settles.”
Nevertheless, Bhumjaithai Party sources revealed that five cabinet positions will be reserved for outside parties (non-MPs), including incumbent Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, and former Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, among others. If more parties are brought in, more cabinet posts for non-MPs will need to be created, which could affect the interests of Bhumjaithai Party as the core of the coalition government.
The sources also said that Pheu Thai Party will get five ministerial posts. As for whether Thaksin's nephew, Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate Paetongtarn, will join the cabinet, it will be up to the Pheu Thai Party to decide.
Online media "Thai Headline News" reported that Paetongtarn has expressed interest in serving as the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, so as to utilize his experience in university education to promote the ministry’s work.
The report quoted sources as saying that Pheu Thai Party will meet again with Bhumjaithai Party on Tuesday (24th) to discuss cabinet position allocations.
As for the Move Forward Party, which Bhumjaithai Party previously tried to woo, it has not commented on the possibility of being excluded from the ruling coalition.
Thai media previously reported that negotiations between Bhumjaithai Party and the Move Forward Party ran into some obstacles, as both wanted control of one of the key ministries – Agriculture and Cooperatives.
There is also news that Move Forward Party's chief adviser and former Agriculture Minister Thamanat, after trying to oust then Prime Minister Prayuth in 2021, was expelled from the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party, and has since been perceived as lacking team spirit. In addition, he and the Move Forward Party have been troubled by rumors of grey-area funding, which somewhat affected the coalition talks with Bhumjaithai Party.
Thailand held its general election on February 8, with the official results yet to be released. According to the unofficial tally, Bhumjaithai Party won 193 seats in the lower house and became the largest party in parliament.
Although it failed to persuade the Move Forward Party to join and form a strong government with a two-thirds majority in parliament, Bhumjaithai Party believes that a new government supported by 300 MPs is already sufficiently stable.
The Bangkok Post quoted sources as saying that the new government led by Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin will have the party with its 193 House seats as the core, and will include Pheu Thai Party with 74 seats, as well as other smaller parties totaling 33 seats, forming a total of 300 seats.
However, caretaker Prime Minister Anutin, when asked on Saturday (Feb 21), said that they are still waiting for the election commission to officially certify the election results and have yet to start cabinet formation, stressing that “negotiations will only take place after the dust settles.”
Nevertheless, Bhumjaithai Party sources revealed that five cabinet positions will be reserved for outside parties (non-MPs), including incumbent Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, and former Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, among others. If more parties are brought in, more cabinet posts for non-MPs will need to be created, which could affect the interests of Bhumjaithai Party as the core of the coalition government.
The sources also said that Pheu Thai Party will get five ministerial posts. As for whether Thaksin's nephew, Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate Paetongtarn, will join the cabinet, it will be up to the Pheu Thai Party to decide.
Online media "Thai Headline News" reported that Paetongtarn has expressed interest in serving as the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, so as to utilize his experience in university education to promote the ministry’s work.
The report quoted sources as saying that Pheu Thai Party will meet again with Bhumjaithai Party on Tuesday (24th) to discuss cabinet position allocations.
As for the Move Forward Party, which Bhumjaithai Party previously tried to woo, it has not commented on the possibility of being excluded from the ruling coalition.
Thai media previously reported that negotiations between Bhumjaithai Party and the Move Forward Party ran into some obstacles, as both wanted control of one of the key ministries – Agriculture and Cooperatives.
There is also news that Move Forward Party's chief adviser and former Agriculture Minister Thamanat, after trying to oust then Prime Minister Prayuth in 2021, was expelled from the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party, and has since been perceived as lacking team spirit. In addition, he and the Move Forward Party have been troubled by rumors of grey-area funding, which somewhat affected the coalition talks with Bhumjaithai Party.
Thailand held its general election on February 8, with the official results yet to be released. According to the unofficial tally, Bhumjaithai Party won 193 seats in the lower house and became the largest party in parliament.