Transition panel set up to work on Move Forward-led coalition’s policies

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A NINE-PERSON TRANSITION committee was today (May 30) set up to sort out and streamline the campaign policies of a Move Forward-led, eight-partner coalition government.

Move Forward leader/top candidate for prime minister Pita Limjaroenrat was named chairman of the transition committee to which 23 working teams will be attached, including seven already set up today, under joint resolutions reached among the leaderships of the eight coalition partners at the Prachachart headquarters.

The number of working teams corresponds to the number of points stated in an MoU earlier signed by the eight coalition partners outlining political, social and economic policies which they have separately proclaimed during recent electoral campaigns to carry out in the course of optimum interests of the people and country.

Transition committee members include Move Forward MP-designate Sirikanya Tansakul, Paophum Rojanasakul of the Pheu Thai, Prachachart MP-designate Tawee Sodsong, Anudit Nakorntap of the Thai Sang Thai, Fair MP-designate Kannavee Suebsang, Virat Varotsirin of the Thai Liberal, Vasavat Puangpornsri of the Pheu Thai Ruam Palang and Palang Sangkhom Mai MP-designate Chaorit Khajornpongkirati.

Nevertheless, Pita said there will be plenty of time for the coalition partners to negotiate cabinet portfolios which, he said, will be primarily allocated on account of their partisan campaign platforms rather than individual personalities.

Meanwhile, Pita confirmed the post of House Speaker is yet to be agreed upon only between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai as the country’s largest and second largest party after the May 14 election respectively.

The apparent tug of war for the top post of the executive branch is believed to play a pivotal role in the voting process for prime minister in a joint House/Senate session tentatively scheduled for August.

According to partisan sources, a Move Forward House speaker will see to it that Pita could practically be voted for prime minister twice, albeit on different days, in case that he might possibly fail in the first attempt to get adequate yea votes from the lawmakers.

But a Pheu Thai House speaker will likely deny Pita a second chance to find enough yea votes and will promptly adjourn the prime minister-picking session until next day or next week during which Pita will be no longer named and instead be replaced by a Pheu Thai candidate, namely either Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, or real estate tycoon Settha Taweesin, for the top post of government.

A partisan contestant for prime minister is constitutionally bound to get yea votes from more than half the combined total of 500 MPs and 250 senators or at least 376 votes.

Given a combined force of 312 MPs on his side, the Move Forward leader is needing 64 more votes from among the non-coalition MPs and unelected senators to become the country’s 30th prime minister.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, centre left, and Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew, centre right, together making a heart hand sign at a meeting of the eight coalition partners today, May 30, 2023.

Front Page: Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew has his arm over Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s shoulder at today’s meeting. Both photos: Thai Rath

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