Prayut’s party to decide shortly whether to jump onto Pheu Thai bandwagon

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE RUAM THAI SANG CHART will be shortly invited for informal talk with the Pheu Thai and decide for themselves whether they may join a Pheu Thai-led coalition government, confirmed Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer Bhumtham Wechayachai today (Aug.14).

Known as a right-hand man for de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, the partisan wheeler-dealer confirmed Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew and Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong and himself will shortly discuss with their Ruam Thai Sang Chart counterparts whether the pro-military camp will jump onto the bandwagon and help strengthen the Pheu Thai coalition government.

Bhumtham’s latest move was apparently contemplated amidst sustained uncertainties surrounding most senators who might probably decline to vote Pheu Thai candidate Srettha Thavisin for prime minister.

Nevertheless, most of the 249 senators will almost certainly lend solid support alongside the coalition MPs for Srettha only if the Ruam Thai Sang Chart was finally brought into the Pheu Thai-led coalition, given the fact that all the unelected lawmakers had been handpicked by Palang Pracharath leader Prawit “Uncle Pom” Wongsuwan and de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss/caretaker prime minister Prayut “Uncle Tu” Chan-o-cha.

A prime-ministerial candidate will need a minimum of 374 yea votes accounting for more than half the combined total of 498 performing MPs and 249 senators in a joint House/Senate session later this month.

For the time being, the Pheu Thai-led coalition has reportedly mustered support for the real estate tycoon-turned-prime ministerial candidate from a total of 278 MPs, including the 40 Palang Pracharath MPs, but not yet including the 36 Ruam Thai Sang Chart MPs, plus any senators.

CAPTIONS:

Top, from left: Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister Srettha Thavisin, Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan and caretaker prime minister/de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Insert: De facto Pheu Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra’s right-hand man Bhumtham Wechayachai.

Front Page: Prayut Chan-o-cha, left, and Srettha Thavisin, right. All photos: Matichon

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