The Democrats have finally decided to join the coalition led by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) after the PPRP agreed to hand the party the agriculture and commerce ministerial posts while accepting its demand to amend the charter.
After five hours of heated debate yesterday, a meeting of Democrat executives and MPs decided by a vote of 61-16, with two abstentions, to join the PPRP-led camp.
Speaking after the meeting, Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the Democrats decided to join the coalition after the party's demands were met.
The preconditions include incorporating the party's policy on income guarantees for farmers and amendments to the constitution, Mr Jurin said.
"We realised that whichever way the decision went, we would be criticised anyway. Therefore, we have opted for the country's benefit to end the political uncertainty and have a majority government," Mr Jurin said.
He also said the meeting resolved that all Democrat MPs will vote for Prayut Chan-o-cha to embark on a second stint as prime minister during a joint parliamentary session today.
A Democrat source said that Democrat secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on told party executives that the PPRP had agreed to hand a deputy prime minister post and three cabinet seats -- agriculture, commerce and social development and human security -- to the party. The Democrats will also get four deputy ministerial portfolios for education, public health, interior and transport.
Former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday failed to dissuade party colleagues from joining the regime-backing coalition.
The source said that Mr Abhisit spent almost an hour explaining why the Democrat Party should be an independent opposition, but to no avail.
After the vote, former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn tendered his resignation from the party.
Thanat Thanakit-amnuay, a member of the "New Dem" group of young Democrat politicians, posted on his Facebook page that he would end his political role immediately.
The PPRP-led coalition will now have the support of 254 MPs -- 53 MPs from the Democrat Party, 51 from the Bhumjaithai Party and 14 from small parties, while the PPRP has 116 MPs -- compared with the seven-party coalition led by Pheu Thai which has 245 seats.
With all the 250 regime-appointed senators guaranteed to vote for Gen Prayut, who is the PPRP's prime ministerial candidate, the path is clear for him to reclaim the premiership during today's joint meeting.
Democrat-list MP Issara Somchai said before the meeting that he was confident more than half of the party's MPs wanted to join the PPRP-led coalition.
He said that the party would likely vote to join the coalition after the two parties agreed to nominate Democrat list MP and former leader Chuan Leekpai for the post of House speaker.
A Democrat source said that those who wield power in the PPRP have reaffirmed that the PPRP has agreed to meet the Democrats' conditions for joining its coalition.
Regarding the PPRP's internal problems involving the Sam Mitr (Three allies) group, the phu yai (senior and respected figures) of the PPRP will see to it that these problems will not affect the formation of the coalition, the source added.
Thai media have reported that the Sam Mitr group has also had its sights set on the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and perhaps might have been promised it by PPRP executives.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting at Government House, Gen Prayut said that the people involved in the formation of the next government need to be sure that the new administration is a stable one.
"The next government does not belong to any particular political party, but it belongs to the people," Gen Prayut said.
The prime minister also said that he believed MPs and senators will be mature enough to perform their duty during today's meeting to vote for a prime minister.
Gen Prayut also said he hoped they will stick to the meeting's agenda which focuses on the prime ministerial vote, rather than criticise him.
Still, Gen Prayut said he was confident that parliament president Chuan Leekpai and his deputy Pornpetch Wichitcholchai will be able to maintain order during the joint session of parliament.
The PPRP also yesterday officially announced a commitment from small parties to support its bid to form a government.
The PPRP declared the alliance with the Action Coalition for Thailand Party, the Chartpattana Party, the People's Reform Party, the Rak Pheunpa Praphet Thai Party (formerly known as the Thai Forest Land Reclamation Party) and the Thai Local Power Party.
The five small parties have a combined 14 MPs in parliament.
Chartthaipattana has confirmed its intention to join the alliance, while Bhumjaithai says it will do so if PPRP can form a majority coalition.
