The Chartthaipattana Party will join the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) in forming a coalition government, with bargaining for cabinet portfolios to start after the House of Representatives votes for its speaker on Saturday.
Chartthaipattana leader Kanchana Silpa-archa announced the alliance with the pro-junta camp after talks with her party’s 10 MPs on Friday. She said the decision was made in the interests of helping the country move forward.
The party has appointed Varawut Silpa-archa, the brother of the leader, and secretary-general Prapat Pothasuthon to hold talks with Palang Pracharath about cabinet posts.
Ms Kanchana refused to elaborate on which ministries the party was interested in.
The party’s influence and bargaining power has shrunk dramatically since the heyday of Ms Kanchana’s late father. Suphan Buri godfather Banharn Silpa-archa served as prime minister in a coalition led by his Chart Thai Party (as it was known then) from 1995-96. Chart Thai placed first in the 1995 election with 92 seats. Banharn died in 2016.
Nevertheless, the confirmation that Chartthaipattana will join the coalition led by PPRP lends more weight to speculation that the latter will form the government.
The Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties, with 103 seats combined, have been playing coy and holding out until the last minute, reportedly in hopes of persuading PPRP to offer them more “grade A” cabinet seats.
