It seems there’s been a breakthrough in the stalemate over who gets the role of House Speaker when Thailand’s new government is formed. The issue had created a bit of an impasse between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties, who came in first and second respectively, in the May 14 general election.
The Move Forward Party has insisted that, as the party who won the most votes in the election, it has the right to appoint one of its own to the role. In addition, MFP says it needs the role to push its campaign pledges over the line. Until now however, the Pheu Thai Party has been reluctant to yield, with unsubstantiated rumours it would quit the 8-party coalition formed with MFP if it did not get the Speaker role.
The Move Forward party have also publicly stated it will ‘walk’ away from the coalition if it doesn’t get its way.
However, according to a new report from Thai PBS World, some agreement has finally been reached. The Pheu Thai Party has conceded the role to MFP, which will remain in the new administration even if leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails to secure enough votes to become PM.
In that event, Pheu Thai would take over the formation of government, with Move Forward remaining in the coalition. There are many other scenarios that may unfold in the next few weeks before the parliamentary meetings to appoint a House Speaker and the next PM.
Until now, there have been spirited exchanges between both parties over who would get the Speaker position. According to Thai PBS World, the parties have now agreed that their members will refrain from publicly commenting on the role, to avoid jeopardising talks that are set to take place between all 8 coalition partners on Sunday, July 2.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
