Thai coalition says nearing Senate nod for Pita premiership

• A coalition of pro-democracy parties that swept Thailand’s general election in May 23 said it is close to securing enough support from the nation’s pro-establishment Senate to form a government led by Pita Limjaroenrat.
• The eight-party alliance has made “satisfactory progress” in winning over enough senators to cross the threshold of 376 votes in a joint sitting of the parliament that selects the prime minister, Sirikanya Tansakun, a deputy leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), said on 20 Jun.
• The MFP’s secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon reportedly said earlier in May 23 that the number of pro-Pita senators had increased to about 40.
• The MFP and Pheu Thai Party (PTP), the biggest parties in the coalition, have yet to reach an agreement on the speaker’s post, according to the PTP’s deputy secretary-general Phaophum Rojanasakul. The two groups may settle the dispute before the next meeting of the coalition leaders, he said. The gathering, originally scheduled for 22 Jun, would be postponed for now as Pita had contracted Covid-19.

External Link : https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-20/thai-coalition-close-to-clinching-senate-nod-to-form-government