BURI RAM: The Bhumjaithai Party continued to keep people guessing about its political stance on Monday but its leader has indicated that he already has choices.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday his party would not rush the decision on which side it would join — the pro-regime Palanag Pracharath or anti-regime Pheu Thai alliance — as it still had time to announce the political stance. Still, the former construction businessman admitted having "some choices."
"I have some choices in my mind and I will disclose them when the time comes," he said.
Other parties expected Bhumjaithai to reveal its decision during the two-day seminar for its MPs ending on Monday. His comments on Monday meant they would have to wait longer.
With 51 MPs, Bhumjaithai can easily enable the Pheu Thai-led alliance to form a stable government. Pro-regime Palang Pracharath, on the other hand, will also need to bring the Democrat Party's 52 MPs into the fold, in addition to Bhumjaithai's, in order to do so. (see chart below)
While the pro-regime side already has enough votes (137 MP votes and 250 senators' votes) to ensure its candidate, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, is the new prime minister, it still needs another 114 votes in the lower house to form a stable government.
Meanwhile, the anti-regime alliance already has 245 votes and needs only six more to do so.
The votes from the four undecided parties, including Bhumjaithai, total 116.
Parliament will convene on Wednesday but the lower and upper houses will begin activities after Friday when their Majesties the King and the Queen preside over the opening. The vote by the two houses on the prime minister is expected by the end of this month.
Mr Anutin made clear on Monday that Bhumjaithai would not be part of a minority government and that a coalition government must accept its main policy of cannabis commercialisation.
He said Bhumjaithai had not been in talks with the Democrat, another party widely speculated to possibly form a third group with Mr Anutin's party to break the political impasse.
The Democrat also held its first meeting of a new leadership lineup on Monday after Jurin Laksanavisit was elected the new party leader and the new executives were elected.
But Mr Jurin said before the meeting the party would not make the decision at least until the party executives met its MPs on Tuesday.
