Bhumjaithai Leader Anutin Denies Secret Deal to Form Government to Contest with Move Forward

National —

Leader of the Bhumjaithai Party Anutin Charnvirakul denied reports that his party was secretly planning to form a coalition government in competition with the Move Forward Party.

In his first full interview after Thailand’s general election on May 14th, Mr. Anutin, who is also the current caretaker Minister of Public Health, told reporters today, June 6th, that he has not talked with anybody regarding the forming of a coalition government.

There were reports that Anutin’s party Bhumjaithai, which has 71 MP seats and was third place in the recent election, would join forces with the Pheu Thai Party to form a government if the Move Forward Party, which is currently facing numerous political hurdles, failed to do so.

A picture of Anutin and one of Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidates Srettha Thavisin talking with one another at the previous Leicester City football match in England fueled the rumor of a secret government formation deal. However, Anutin played down the speculation, saying it was only a coincidence.

“We give support to the party that won the election and has the most votes,” he said.

When asked if there is a possibility of a turnaround in this situation, Anutin responded that he is still working in the caretaker government and his focus is on that.

The caretaker government is responsible for administering the country until the new government takes office. Therefore, as a caretaker Minister of Public Health, he must fulfill his duties to the best of his abilities, while adhering to regulations and maintaining the decorum of being a caretaker government, Anutin said.

When asked if he would vote for Pita Limjaroenrat, leader and PM candidate of the Move Forward Party, Anutin said Pita has some policies that he disagrees with.

Anutin also urges the public and media not to make wild guesses as the Election Commission has not even officially certified a single MP yet. Anutin has stayed continually that his party, Bhumjaithai, would wait until the final certification of the MP’s in the election before making any final decisions about their political affiliations and votes.

Anutin did not comment on marijuana or continued debate on possibly making the plant a narcotic again amongst the possible new government and Move Forward Party. Anutin was the main champion of cannabis and the policy decriminalizing it in Thailand.

The one year anniversary of the Cannabis decriminalization is in a few days as we reported here.
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Aim Tanakorn
The local news translator at The Pattaya News. Aim is a twenty-four year old who currently lives in Bangkok. Interested in English translation, story-telling, and entrepreneurship, he believes that hard-working is an indispensable component of every success in this world.