Thai PM Anutin’s Bhumjaithai party agrees to form coalition with Thaksin’s Pheu Thai after election upset and border tensions
BANGKOK: Thai caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s conservative party, which won a stunning election victory at the weekend, agreed to form a coalition with jailed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s party, both announced on Friday.
Anutin’s pro-military and pro-monarchy party had its best electoral performance ever in polls that took place after two rounds of deadly border clashes with Cambodia last year.
Thailand’s most successful party of the 21st century, Pheu Thai had its worst election result ever Sunday, raising questions about the future of the political machine built by jailed Thaksin.
“Although the election results have not yet been officially confirmed, we have a consensus that Pheu Thai will support us in leading the coalition, as planned,” Anutin said at a news conference at his Bhumjaithai party’s headquarters.
Prasert Chanruangthong, secretary-general of Thaksin’s Pheu Thai, told reporters the party “is ready to support Bhumjaithai Party in forming the coalition. Other issues will be discussed further.”
The latest incarnation of the organisation founded by the telecom billionaire, Pheu Thai came a distant third in Sunday’s election, its vote share in the party-list section plunging by more than half.
Voters appeared to turn their backs on the reformist People’s Party, which came second.
Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai were previously coalition partners, until Anutin pulled out over a Cambodia border dispute scandal last June.
“Our priority is for the country to move forward for the greatest benefit of the people,” Prasert said ahead of coalition talks on Friday.
Enduring dynasty
Thaksin is serving a one-year prison sentence for corruption in office, but many observers expect him to be released earlier than scheduled alongside a political agreement.
The Shinawatras have produced no fewer than four Thai prime ministers this century, and Pheu Thai’s latest nominee for the position, biomedical engineering professor Yodchanan Wongsawat, was Thaksin’s nephew.
Thaksin’s political clan has for two decades been the key foe of Thailand’s pro-military, pro-royalty elite who view their populist brand as a threat to traditional social order.
Some analysts had said Pheu Thai’s losses on Sunday marked the end of the long-standing Shinawatra dynasty.
But its inclusion in the coalition leaves open the possibility of a political comeback.
The Southeast Asian nation’s next administration will need to tackle anaemic economic growth, with its vital tourism industry yet to rebound to pre-Covid highs, and manage fallout over multibillion-dollar cyberscam networks operating from the region.
Perhaps most pressing is the Cambodia dispute, which erupted into open fighting in July and December, killing scores of people on both sides and displacing around a million altogether.
The conflict was top of mind for many voters, with analysts saying a wave of nationalism propelled Anutin to victory.
