Thailand’s opposition has announced an eight-party coalition in a bid to create a new government following Sunday’s general elections.
The Move Forward Party, or MFP, was announced as the unofficial winner in the elections, gaining the most seats in Thailand’s lower house and comfortably defeating conservative and military-backed parties.
Seven other political parties, including pre-election favorite Pheu Thai, have agreed to support the MFP as leader of the coalition and leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s push to be premier.
Dozens of political parties battled it out in Thailand’s elections, the first since 2019. Millions of Thai citizens voted to select Thailand’s 500 members of parliament in the lower house of parliament — voting from two ballots to select 400 constituency MPs and 100 party list MPs.
Pushing forward
Limjaroenrat told a packed press conference in Bangkok on Thursday morning that the coalition was “taking shape.”
“I think it’s been very clear we have enough consensus to form a coalition right now. The key message of today’s press conference is to ensure the public that my coalition is firmly taking shape. There is momentum. There is progress,” he said.
Limjaroenrat clarified that the parities were working together. This came amid rumors of possible rifts among parties.
“We also have a very clear road map from today until the day I become prime minister, and that includes a couple of working teams to sort out any differences, and to make sure there is continuation of power, minimizing risk, as well as reducing the destabilizing factors that could damage the country or the economy or the financial markets,” said Limjaroenrat.
“The negotiation team is working on the behalf of the people … and the other team is a transition team just to make sure there is a transition of power. If there is something we want to continue, we will continue; if there is something we want to stop, we will stop," he added.
Election structure
The winners of the elections need a majority of 376 seats because Thailand’s upper house also consists of a 250-member Senate.
The Move Forward Party gained 152 seats from voters in the elections, but with its eight-party coalition, the seats will more than double to 313.
“Within the next couple of months, I believe we can start working for the people moving forward right away,” Limjaroenrant said.
Upward of 39 million Thais voted Sunday, and turnout was a record, exceeding 75%, according to reports.
Alliance created
Rumors in recent days had suggested the Pheu Thai party might try to compete with the Move Forward Party by forming its own coalition. Pheu Thai ended up rejecting those reports and saying in a statement it would join the opposition bloc.
Limjaroenrat confirmed there would be another press conference in Bangkok on Monday, when the coalition is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to form a cabinet.
The seven parties joining MFP in the coalition are Pheu Thai, Prachachart, Thai Sang Thai, Seri Ruam Thai, Fair, Pue Thai Rumphlang and Plung Sungkom Mai. Together, they will hold 161 seats.
MFP pledge
The MFP has campaigned to lessen the military influence on Thailand’s government and to end military conscription. The biggest pledge is to reform Thailand’s monarchy and amend anti-monarchy laws, plans that have garnered huge support from Thailand’s youth.
In 2020 and 2021, anti-government and monarchy reform protests led by Thai youth rocked Thailand. Clashes and controversies have followed as hundreds of protesters and activists have been arrested under the lese majeste law, which prohibits criticism of the monarchy and carries heavy prison sentences for offenders.
Napon Jatusripitak, a Thai political scientist at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said the Pheu Thai party was a significant addition.
“Pheu Thai is the most significant player and stands to gain the most if Pita is disqualified or if the coalition fails to take shape under the MFP's leadership. Due to the number of seats that Pheu Thai holds, any viable coalition must include it in the political equation,” he told VOA.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra led Pheu Thai during the general elections, and her party was the pre-election favorite to gain the most seats. Paetongtarn, who is the daughter of former ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wasn’t present at Thursday press conference.
“The coalition will need to increase pressure on the senate and on parties outside the coalition to vote for its prime minister based on principle — a tough sell, as these parties will be going against the preferences of their own supporters by voting for Pita. The MFP-led coalition may also be forced to ease its stance on Article 112 [regarding the lese majeste law] in order to gain support from certain members of the senate or other parties,” Jatusripitak said.
Monitored voting
The Asian Networks for Free Elections, or ANFREL, an independent election monitoring organization in Bangkok, said Wednesday that the transparency of this year’s elections was much improved.
In 2019 general elections, ANFREL slammed the electoral process as deeply flawed. That year, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was elected as civilian leader, five years after he led a military coup.
The key to this year’s election lies within the senate and whether it will back the Move Forward Party coalition.
Thailand’s Electoral Commission has up to 60 days to confirm election results.
