Thailand's ruling conservatives near majority as Pheu Thai backs coalition government
India Today
Bhumjaithai secured 193 seats in the 500-member House, and with Pheu Thai's 74 seats and support from smaller parties, the bloc crosses the 251-seat majority mark, potentially returning Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to office.
Thailand's ruling conservative Bhumjaithai Party on Friday moved closer to forming a new government after the Pheu Thai Party, the third place finisher in the country's general election, agreed to join it in a proposed ruling coalition.
Bhumjaithai won 193 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives in Sunday's election, according to unofficial results from the Election Commission, positioning it to return incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnviraku l to office with a Cabinet of his choosing.
The populist Pheu Thai Party, backed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, finished third with 74 seats. Together, the two parties would command 267 seats, surpassing the 251 seats required for a majority. Several smaller parties also pledged their support.
"Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai will look into the future. We agreed that both our parties have people with abilities great enough to lead Thailand into a stable and sustainable future," Anutin said in a news conference.
He was joined by Pheu Thai leaders, including Yodchanan Wongsawat, a nephew of Thaksin who had been the party's candidate for prime minister.
The two parties had previously partnered after the 2023 election, when Pheu Thai - then the second-largest party - led negotiations as the senior partner in their government-to-be.
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