By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE BHUMJAITHAI and Pheu Thai, the largest and third largest elected parties respectively, today (Feb.13) held an initial talk without the Klatham over the setup of a coalition government following Sunday’s election.
Executive members of the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob had invited those of the neo-conservative Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra for the initial talk behind closed doors at the former’s headquarters over the planned setup of a Bhumjaithai-led government with Caretaker Prime Minister/Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul remaining as head of the executive branch.
Discussed during the informal talk was the total of MP seats which the parties had grabbed from the nationwide election. A maximum of 35 members of cabinet is legally provided in addition to a prime minister. The prime minister and all members of cabinet are legally allowed to assume more than one ministerial seat in concurrent fashion.
Attending the coalition-setting session were Bhumjaithai secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob, ex-Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, Pheu Thai electoral campaign director Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong and Anutin, among others.
Chaichanok is a son of the de facto Bhumjaithai boss and Yodchanan is a nephew of the de facto Pheu Thai boss.
In Sunday’s election, Newin’s camp had grabbed 193 MP seats – 174 in constituency-based mode and 19 in party-listed mode whilst Thaksin’s camp had secured 74 MP seats – 58 in constituency-based mode and 16 in party-listed mode.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the ultra-conservative Klatham, the fourth largest elected party under de facto boss Thammanat Prompao who had obtained 58 MP seats, will be brought at a later date into the Bhumjaithai-led coalition, among several splinter camps, to preferably make a stable government with a predominant majority of coalition MPs on their side, compared to the second largest elected, reformist People’s with 118 MPs and the fifth largest elected, Old School conservative Democrats with 22 MPs in the opposition bloc at parliament.
A few splinter parties with only one or two MPs each had been earlier brought into the Bhumjaithai-led coalition prior to today’s planned alignment between Newin’s and Thaksin’s camps.
Nevertheless, Anutin has earlier said the setup of the Bhumjaithai-led government would not be completed until after the Election Commission has verified the official results of Sunday’s election.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page – Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul shaking hands with ex-Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister Yodchanan Wongsawat after a talk on setting up a coalition government. Photos – Naewna
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