National —
The Bhumjaithai Party has agreed to join hands with the Pheu Thai Party to form a new government coalition, Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said at a press conference on August 7th.
Bhumjaithai agreed to establish a government coalition with Pheu Thai on three conditions including: 1) the coalition must not include the Move Forward Party 2) the coalition must not meddle with the lese-majeste law concerning royal defamation and 3) the coalition must not support a minority government.
The decision to switch sides occurred after Pheu Thai abandoned the previous coalition led by the Move Forward Party on August 2nd, following the unsuccessful bid by the latter’s leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, to assume office.
Anutin, who is the current caretaker Minister of Public Health, agreed to support the Prime Ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, Srettha Thavisin, saying the priority now is to form a government to allow the country to move forward.
Likewise, Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew stated that the reason his party needs to join hands with Bhumjaithai is to break through the current political deadlock as the country still does not have an official government yet after the general election back on May 14th, 2023.
The new Pheu Thai-led coalition now has 212 votes, with both parties confirming that it will eventually reach more than 300 votes to form a strong government coalition.
The names of the other coalition partners have yet to be announced by the two parties.
