BANGKOK, Aug 30 — Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has announced that a prime ministerial candidate will be announced soon, following the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Prime Minister by the Constitutional Court yesterday.
Phumtham, a member of the Pheu Thai Party, said the party remains confident in its ability to continue leading the coalition and form the next government.
He stressed that the coalition government remains united and committed to working together.
“The coalition has assigned Pheu Thai to proceed, and we will make an announcement soon. Chaikasem (Nitisiri) has no issues. He remains Pheu Thai’s candidate for Prime Minister,” Phumtham told a press conference after meeting coalition partners at the Pheu Thai headquarters yesterday.
Besides Chaikasem, there were four other eligible candidates from the lists submitted during the 2023 election, namely Bhumjaithai’s Anutin Charnvirakul, United Thai Nation Party’s Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Democrat Party’s Jurin Laksanawisit, and United Thai Nation Party’s Prayuth Chan-o-cha.
However, Bhumjaithai left the coalition in June.
Thailand’s current coalition government, led by Pheu Thai together with 10 other parties, holds 253 seats. The opposition, led by the People’s Party and including Bhumjaithai, controls 239 seats.
“I would like to inform the people that the coalition government remains united and firmly holding hands, ready to continue working with full commitment, as we have stated from the beginning. The government’s support base remains the same,” he said.
Phumtham added that the coalition had entrusted Pheu Thai with leading the formation of the government, and therefore, there was no problem.
“We are open to cooperation with all political parties in order to maintain government stability, address people’s problems, and strengthen democracy. We are ready to work together, and coordination will continue from here,” he said.
The acting Prime Minister noted that negotiations between the coalition parties are in progress, and that it would take some time before further announcements can be made.
The Constitutional Court dismissed Paetongtarn over ethics and integrity violations. In a 6-3 ruling, it found that the 39-year-old had failed to uphold the ethical standards required of a prime minister during her June telephone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen.
