Thailand’s Move Forward Party, which won the most parliamentary seats in the May general election, will step aside to let its ally Pheu Thai Party lead efforts of a coalition of pro-democracy parties to form the next government.
Move Forward, whose leader Pita Limjaroenrat was blocked from securing the country’s top political office twice, will stay with the coalition and nominate a candidate from Pheu Thai for the prime minister’s post, the party’s secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon told reporters on Friday. The next round of vote to elect a premier is set for July 27.
“The issue today isn’t whether Pita will be prime minister, but whether Thailand can return to democracy,” Chaithawat said. “Our highest goal is still to form a government to end military-backed rule.”
The Thai baht weakened along with most Asian currencies Friday, after strengthening the previous day on hopes that a Pheu Thai candidate will have a better chance at forming the government.
The announcement came after Pita was left with near-zero chance of leading the country after he was rejected by conservative parties and the military-appointed Senate last week and his re-nomination blocked again this week.
READ: Thai Brace for Protests, Tussle for PM Job as Pita Blocked
The eight-party coalition — which commands a comfortable majority in the lower house — still has a shot at ending nearly a decade of military-backed rule that started with a coup in 2014. Pheu Thai, the second-biggest party in the alliance, has not formally named its candidate for the next vote, but property tycoon Srettha Thavisin is seen the most likely choice.
The key challenge is to win the support of the 250-member Senate, which is stacked with allies of the pro-military royalist establishment, to be able to succeed in the vote. Many senators are opposed to Move Forward’s reformist agendas, which include amendments to the country’s lese majeste law that penalizes criticism of the monarchy.
--With assistance from Pathom Sangwongwanich and Suttinee Yuvejwattana.
(Updates with details.)
