The Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties should keep their promises that they will not join a coalition led by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), attendees of a seminar hosted by a support group for relatives of victims of the 1992 Black May protests were told.
Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will definitely reclaim the premiership with the support of the 250 senators today when a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate convenes to vote for the next prime minister.
However, if the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties keep their word, Gen Prayut will end up leading a minority government, Mr Jatuporn said, adding that such a government will struggle to function.
"What the two political parties should do is keep their word ... Don't pursue political gains you do not deserve and go back on your word and betray the people," Mr Jatuporn said.
Most speakers at the seminar were anti-regime. Commenting on Gen Prayut's refusal to attend today's meeting to outline his vision as the prime ministerial candidate of the PPRP, Mr Jatuporn said that when Gen Prayut forms a government, he will still have to be present at a parliament meeting to deliver a policy address.
"It will be interesting to see how patient Gen Prayut is when he is grilled by politicians," Mr Jatuporn said.
He went on to say that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) with Gen Prayut as its leader has not been officially scrutinised during its five-year rule. After it relinquishes power when the new government takes office, the NCPO's actions will be exposed in parliament, Mr Jatuporn said.
Pannika Wanich, Future Forward Party MP and spokeswoman, said the prime ministerial vote has already been rigged. She also predicted a political scenario which would repeat the May 1992 protests, in which over 200,000 people took to the streets in Bangkok and at least 52 were killed.
"We now have a prime minister who came to power through a coup. The next thing will be the possible return of street politics. Therefore, it depends on the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties to upset the plan [to keep Gen Prayut in power]. If not, the people will be angry because the election is meaningless and they will take to the streets,'' Ms Pannika said.
