Last week they dumped Move Forward from the original coalition. Yesterday they were sitting across a table discussing possible strategies moving forward. Paetongtarn Shinawatra led a delegation of senior Pheu Thai members to Move Forward’s headquarters yesterday, August 9, to ask for their support for PM candidate Srettha Thavisin.
The head of the Pheu Thai Party Family says talks with the Move Forward Party “…ended with no guarantee that MFP will back Pheu Thai’s PM candidate”.
“I think we might have to wait a bit longer (for the answer).”
The reality is, that if the MFP voted as a block, along with the ‘new’ Pheu Thai coalition (which includes BhumJaiThai and some of the other members of the original coalition), they would have more than the required 376 votes for a new PM, without any need for the Senate to cast a single vote.
The meeting, which lasted around 90 minutes according to a Bangkok Post report, was attended by Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai, and secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong.
The Move Forward delegation was led by party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, accompanied by deputy leaders Sirikanya Tansakul and Pijarn Chaowapatthanawong, and secretary-general Thawatchai Tulathon.
After abandoning Move Forward and reneging on the MoU signed with the MFP-led coalition, Pheu Thai is now leading attempts to form a coalition government. Having secured the Bhumjaithai Party and a number of others, there is speculation it may end up having to approach pro-junta parties in order to secure the votes it needs for Srettha to become PM.
Yesterday’s meeting with the Move Forward Party is seen by some as a sign that Pheu Thai is concerned it won’t receive enough votes from senators and is therefore trying all avenues to get the support it needs. The party says that if MFP agrees to vote for Srettha as PM, the backing of the Senate won’t be needed.
However, they left yesterday’s meeting without an answer, with Paetongtarn saying Move Forward gave no indication of how they would vote. MFP leader Pita also said no decision was reached at the meeting, but said both parties will remain on good terms in parliament.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
