Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (Phak Kao Klai, MFP), which won the most seats in Thailand’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, announced the formation of an eight-party alliance that is set to take power, except for one stumbling block, namely proposed changes to the country’s lèse-majesté law.
The would-be coalition government can count on 313 votes in the lower house to vote in favour of the MFP leader's appointment as prime minister. But that is still far short of the combined (House and Senate) 376 votes needed to form a government.
The 63 extra votes to pass the threshold will have to come from other lawmakers in the House or in the 250-seat unelected Senate, which was appointed by the military junta that seized power in the country’s last coup in 2014.
In the 2019 elections, senators voted as one to keep the 2014 coup leader and former General Prayut Can-o-cha as prime minister. Some senators have already indicated that they would oppose the appointment of Pita Limjaroenrat as head of government, accusing him of not loving the monarchy.
For his part, Pita today was at the Okura Prestige Bangkok Hotel to present his coalition.
“I would like to thank the people for all the votes they have given us. They represent hope and a desire for change. The new government will work with honesty and be the government of all Thai people,” he said.
His coalition partners include the For Thais Party (Phak Pheu Thai). Led by the Shinawatra family, it won every election since 2001, but came second in the 14 May elections. The smaller allies are: Prachachat, Thai Sang Thai, Seri Ruam Thai, Fair, Plung Sungkom Mai and Peu Thai Rumphlang.
Pita added that next Monday, the ninth anniversary of the 2014 coup, the eight-party coalition will release a draft memorandum of understanding, outlining the alliance’s priorities and plans to meet the country’s economic and social challenges.
When asked by journalists, Pita refused to comment changes to Section 112 of the Penal Code which refers to the crime of lèse-majesté.
During the election campaign, his party proposed to change the provision, not abolish it. As it stands, it imposes up to 15 years in prison for any offence against the dignity of the sovereign and has often been used by the government to silence activists and political opponents, including minors.
In this regard, the Thai Pride Party (Phak Phumchai Thai or Bhumjaithai), which finished third in the election, announced on its Facebook page that it would not vote for a prime minister who supports changing the lèse-majesté section, calling it “unchangeable and unnegotiable".
As some observers note, the latter, which hitherto backed outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, could play kingmaker with its 70 seats.
Similarly, despite agreeing to join the MFP-led coalition, the For Thais Party (Phak Pheu Thai) also raised doubts about changing the law.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he would not support any action that could harm the monarchy. “The stance of the Pheu Thai party and the Shinawatra family is we respect and love the institution of the monarchy,” he said.
Previously, his daughter Paetongtarn, who led the party in this election, used a more conciliatory tone, saying that she was willing to discuss possible changes to Section 112 in parliament.
