Thailand’s pro-junta Palang Pracharat poised to cement power as it invites two parties to form coalition
- Deal with two unaligned parties likely to sink opposition coalition’s bid to keep junta members from retaining dominance over government
- Bhumjaithai has accepted invitation, while Democrat Party is expected to announce decision soon
Two Thai political parties have been invited to join a new government led by military junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister, a pro-army party said on Monday, more than two months after a disputed election.
A deal with the unaligned Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties would be likely to sink the opposition Democratic Front coalition’s bid to keep junta members from retaining dominance over the government five years after the army seized power in a coup.
“We invited two parties, but did not expect a conclusion today,” Uttama Savanayana, leader of Palang Pracharat, the pro-military party formed last year by members of the junta’s Cabinet, said after Monday’s meeting.
“We understand there are internal processes, but it was a very good starting point,” he told reporters.
The two parties would give the pro-army coalition a slim majority in the House of Representatives.
Bhumjaithai said it accepted the invitation and its executive committee would deliberate on policies with a view to forming a government soon.