The signing took place during a press conference at parliament late this morning (Sept 3) after Anutin met with MPs from potential coalition parties, reports the Bangkok Post. He announced that his new government would include 146 MPs in the House, including 143 from the 2023 election-winner, the People’s Party.
The next prime minister, expected to be chosen within a few days, needs the support of half the MPs in the House, or 247 out of 492 at present. Bhumjaithai has 69 MPs and the People’s Party 143, for a total of 212.
“We thank the People’s Party for supporting Bhumjaithai to lead the government formation. Bhumjaithai and 146 MPs will form the government. We have signed and submitted our names to the People’s Party to confirm our commitment to form the government as they proposed,” Anutin, 58, said.
He stressed that the government formation process involves cooperation and sacrifice from the People’s Party, aimed at helping Thailand overcome its political, social, economic and natural disaster crises.
"We promise to fulfil our agreement with the People’s Party throughout the four-month period when we will be a minority-vote government, subject to oversight by the People’s Party,” Anutin added.
He added that his coalition would send a letter to the House speaker to set the prime ministerial vote on the House’s agenda as soon as possible.
Key figures from the Klatham Party, the Palang Pracharath Party, the New Democracy Party and factions of the Democrat Party and Pheu Thai were present at the press conference.
Regarding caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s move to dissolve the House of Representatives, Mr Anutin said the individual who submitted the dissolution motion would need to take responsibility for their actions, which needed to be clarified.
“We will form the government as soon as possible and will comply with the law,” Anutin said.
Key political parties are vying to form a new government after the Constitutional Court removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister on Aug 29 over severe ethics violations related to her controversial phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
Bhumjaithai quit the Paetongtarn government led by Pheu Thai in June amid tension between both parties over land ownership issues involving key party figures, the fight for the interior minister’s portfolio, and differing views on casino and cannabis legalisation.