In a move to strengthen their political coalition in Thailand’s House of Representatives, the Pheu Thai Party welcomed the Chart Thai Pattana Party along with its 10 MPs on Thursday.
During a joint statement at the parliament, leaders from both parties expressed their commitment to seeking cooperation from all political parties and the Senate for the election of a new prime minister and the formation of a new government.
Chart Thai Pattana leader Varawut Silpa-Archa expressed his gratitude to Pheu Thai for inviting his party to join the alliance, believing that the two parties share similar views on a host of issues. Varawut is also confident in Pheu Thai’s potential to lead the future administration.
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew highlighted the unique political situation in the country and emphasized the need for all parties to join forces to address constitutional issues, economic challenges, and social conflicts. The alliance aims to bring Thai society back to normalcy swiftly.
Furthermore, Cholnan mentioned that the previous eight-party-coalition alliance with the Move Forward Party (MFP), which accounted for a total of 312 House seats, failed to form a government due to its insistence on trying to amend Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, that hands out prison sentences between three to fifteen years for defaming the royal family. He asserted that The Pheu Thai Party no longer has an interest in forming a government with the Move Forward Party.
The inclusion of the Chart Thai Pattana Party in the Pheu Thai-led coalition has increased the number of House seats for the coalition to 238 out of 500 and has expanded the coalition to a total of nine parties.
