COALITION TALKS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AFTER THAI ELECTION

By Wilawan Watcharasakwet & Kenny Teng

BANGKOK, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Coalition talks are expected to begin soon for the formation of Thailand’s next government, as no single party appears poised to secure an outright parliamentary majority following Sunday’s general election.

Preliminary results based on 94 per cent of votes counted showed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party taking a commanding lead with 174 of the 400 constituency seats, followed by the progressive People’s Party (87), Pheu Thai Party (58), the Klatham Party (56), and the Democrat Party (10).

With Bhumjaithai emerging as the clear frontrunner but falling short of a majority, attention has now turned to Anutin’s next steps in forming a coalition government.

Anutin said no political party had contacted him following the release of the unofficial election results.

“All options remained under consideration, any decision would first need to be deliberated by the party’s executive committee,” he said, after attending a ceremony to pay respects at Government House on Monday.

When asked whether Bhumjaithai Party would invite Pheu Thai Party to join the government, Anutin said there were established procedures that needed to be followed.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party leader Julapun Amornvivat said there have been no discussions with Bhumjaithai on forming the next government.

He stressed that the responsibility to initiate coalition talks rests with the election-winning party.

“Pheu Thai will not take the initiative and will instead wait to see how the situation develops. The party has not imposed limitations on cooperation,” he told reporters on Monday.

Julapun explained that any future cooperation would depend on compatibility in terms of ideas, ideology, and policies.

Earlier, Julapun attended an informal meeting at the party’s headquarters with members of the Pheu Thai executive committee to discuss the current political situation.

Thailand’s 500-seat House of Representatives is elected through a mixed system. Of these, 400 constituency seats are decided through a first-past-the-post system, while the remaining 100 seats are allocated on a proportional representation, or party-list, basis according to each party’s share of the national vote.

The election results must be certified by the ECT within 60 days, or no later than April 9, while the newly elected parliament is required to convene within 15 days after the results are officially confirmed.

-- BERNAMA