BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand’s political landscape has been thrown into uncertainty after the Constitutional Court last Friday disqualified Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, setting the stage for intense parliamentary manoeuvring to fill the leadership vacuum.
With 143 Members of Parliament (MPs), the opposition People’s Party (PP) has emerged as the kingmaker, holding nearly one-third of the lower house and being aggressively courted by both the ruling Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties to secure a parliamentary majority.
Its support could prove decisive in determining the next administration.
However, the party has set two conditions: the dissolution of Parliament within four months and a constitutional referendum to amend the charter in that timeframe.
Associate Professor, Dr Chaiwat Meesanthan, Director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at Thammasat University, said there are currently two frontrunners for the premiership – Pheu Thai’s Chaikasem Nitisiri and Bhumjaithai’s Anutin Charnvirakul.
“Both parties are actively working to build support and secure more than 246 votes in Parliament.
“The final outcome depends on political negotiations and coalition-building, with the key factor being whether any candidate can gather enough backing from Members of Parliament,” he told BERNAMA.
A further meeting with its MPs and executive committee was scheduled for yesterday (Tuesday), with a decision on whom to support expected ahead of this week’s parliamentary vote for Thailand’s new prime minister.
Thailand’s current coalition government, led by Pheu Thai together with 10 other parties, holds 253 seats, while the opposition, led by the People’s Party, controls 239 seats, including Bhumjaithai.
Under parliamentary rules, a candidate requires the endorsement of at least 50 MPs before the House can proceed to a vote.
To be elected prime minister, a nominee must secure a majority of more than half of the lower house’s current 492 members or at least 247 votes. – BERNAMA
