Rumours over Bhumjaithai being brought into coalition govt dismissed

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

FLASH HEARSAY THAT the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob might probably be brought into a Move Forward-led coalition government was categorically dismissed by a deputy Move Forward leader today (June 20).

Sirikanya Tansakul denied that some Move Forward MPs had recently held informal talk with Newin over the possibility of having the Bhumjaithai join the eight coalition partners as a ninth partner so that there will be enough yea votes for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat to become prime minister.

The Move Forward-led coalition partners have a combined force of 312 MPs, yet needing at least 64 more to make it adequate for Pita to assume the top post of the executive branch for which the 71 MPs of Newin’s camp might possibly be helpful.

Nonetheless, no such efforts to have the Bhumjaithai join the eight coalition partners have ever occurred and will not occur at all as groundlessly rumoured, the deputy Move Forward leader said.

Meanwhile, Sirikanya said more and more senators have been inclined to jump onto the legislators’ bandwagon to vote Pita for prime minister in a joint House/Senate session speculated in the second week of next month.

She declined to say how many of the unelected lawmakers may finally vote for Pita amidst sustained speculation that most would abstain from voting only to practically abort his rise to power following the May 14 election.

The prime minister-designate will need yea votes from more than half the combined total of MPs and senators or at least 376 votes in accordance with the coup junta-designed constitution of 2017.

CAPTIONS:

Top and Front Page: Bhumjaithai de facto party boss Newin Chidchod. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon

Insert: Move Forward deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul. Photo: Thai Rath

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