BANGKOK – Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday that his Bhumjaithai Party has secured enough support for its bid to form a new coalition government following the February general election.
Anutin said during a press conference that the Bhumjaithai Party would lead the alliance, backed by a total of 13 parties and commanding around 291 seats in the freshly elected House of Representatives.
“The bloc has secured a sufficient parliamentary majority to effectively manage legislative affairs, administer the country, and serve the people,” he said.
According to a royal decree published in the official Royal Gazette, the Thai parliament will hold its opening ceremony on March 14.
Anutin said the Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai parties will jointly propose three candidates for the house speaker and two deputy speakers when the parliament convenes its first session on March 15.
After the royal endorsement of the house speaker, the process of nominating a prime ministerial candidate will commence, he added.
The Election Commission last week certified results from the Feb 8 polls, with the Bhumjaithai Party taking 191 seats in the 500-member lower chamber, followed by the People’s Party with 120 and Pheu Thai with 74.