[ad_1]
Thailand’s two main opposition parties agreed Monday to form a governing coalition after losing a weekend election to a rival military-backed government that has ruled for nearly a decade.
The Move Forward Party and opposition heavyweight Pheu Thai dominated Sunday’s vote by defeating the army-backed party, but could face challenges in mustering enough support to elect a prime minister, with a parliament set up by the military after a 2014 coup leaning towards the vote. from his allies.
The alliance must ensure efforts to form a new government will not be hampered by the junta-appointed Senate, which will elect the prime minister in the 750-member legislative bicameral, and has a record of voting conservatively. party led by a general.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old leader of Move Forward, proposed a six-party alliance that would lead to 309 seats. That is less than the 376 seats needed to ensure that he is elected prime minister.
Pita is ‘not worried’ about the Senate
Asked about the Senate, he said all parties should respect the results of the elections and there was no point in fighting them.
“I’m not worried but I’m not careless,” he said at a press conference.
“It will be very expensive if someone thinks about canceling the election results or setting up a minority government.”
Pheu Thai, ruled by the billionaire Shinawatra family, said it agreed with Pita’s proposal and wished him success in his bid to become prime minister.
The party has won the most seats in every election this century, including twice in landslides, but found a match against Move Forward as it approached the sweep of the capital Bangkok and made gains in the rival camp.
“Pheu Thai has no plans to form another government,” party leader Cholnanan Srikaew said at a press conference.
Although the result was seen as a hammer blow to the military and its allies, with parliamentary rule on their side and some influential power brokers behind them, they were able to define the new form of government.
‘Nice to see a change’
Move Forward was galvanized by a wave of excitement among the youth over the liberal agenda and promises of bold changes, including breaking up monopolies and reforming laws against the monarchy.
On Monday, Pita performed a victory lap in Bangkok where thousands of supporters had gathered – some on the streets, others on rooftops – wearing Move Forward orange and chanting “Prime Minister Pita.”
Student Pirag Phrasawang, 22, said he was “excited and excited to see change finally coming to the country.”
“My voice has been ignored for a long time. I’m glad people are finally waking up and responding to the Move Forward policy.”
Pita said Move Forward would move forward with plans to overhaul strict lese majeste laws against insulting the monarchy, which critics say are being used to stifle free speech. The Thai government does not comment on the law or its use.
The law punishes perceived contempt with up to 15 years in prison, with hundreds of people charged, some in pre-trial detention.
Pita said the parliament would be the right forum to seek the amendment of the law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code.
“We will use parliament to ensure that there is a full discussion with maturity, with transparency about how we should move forward with regard to the relationship between the monarchy and the masses,” he said.
Asked whether Pheu Thai would support it, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of the main candidates, said it could be discussed in the legislature.
“Pheu Thai has a clear stance that we will not abolish 112 but there may be a discussion about the law in parliament,” he said.
[ad_2]
Source link