Pheu Thai to decide Move Forward's fate

Chartthaipattana Party leader Varawut Silpa-archa, left, is welcomed by Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, right, at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters on Sunday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Chartthaipattana Party leader Varawut Silpa-archa, left, is welcomed by Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, right, at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters on Sunday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

The eight-party alliance will meet on Tuesday to conclude whether the Move Forward Party (MFP) will still join them in forming the new government after other parties refused to support the coalition in a prime ministerial vote if MFP stays on.

Over the past couple of days the Pheu Thai Party (PT), which is trying to make a government after MFP failed to get its own leader elected to the post of prime minister, has asked parties for their support during the second vote planned for Thursday.

A common response is they could not agree to work with Pheu Thai if MFP, its major coalition partner, stands by its plan to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, said Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew.

Pheu Thai intends to seek talks with all parties, except the Democrat Party, which appears unready for talks as it still is without a party leader.

"Before Pheu Thai nominates its prime ministerial candidate, the alliance will have to conclude how it can secure at least 375 votes in support of the candidate," he said.

A group of protesters on Sunday gathered outside Pheu Thai's head office while the party's executives were meeting the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).

Now Pheu Thai has turned to work with two military parties in disguise, Dr Cholnan must resign, protesters said.

Some protesters threw flour at Dr Cholnan and Capt Thamanat Prompow, a PPRP MP for Phayao, when they emerged from the meeting.

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Vocabulary

  • amend: to make changes to a document, law, agreement, etc. especially in order to improve it - แก้ไข
  • candidate: a person who is trying to win an elected position - ผู้สมัคร
  • coalition: a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together - พรรคร่วมรัฐบาล
  • common: done or shared by two or more people - ที่เป็นของส่วนรวม, ที่ร่วมกัน
  • conclude: to finish; to complete an official agreement or task, or arrange a business deal - จบ
  • fate: the things that happen or will happen to someone - ชะตากรรม
  • flour (noun): a fine white or brown powder made from grain, especially wheat, and used in cooking for making bread, cakes, etc. - แป้งทำอาหาร
  • in disguise: changing the way something appears so that people will not recognise what it is - ปลอมตัว แอบแฝง
  • lese majeste: the crime of offending, threatening or showing disrespect for a member of the royal family - หมิ่นพระบรมเดชานุภาพ
  • nominate (verb): to formally propose someone for a job, an award, etc. - เสนอชื่อ
  • party: an organized group of people who have similar ideas about the way in which a country should be governed, and who work together to try to persuade people to vote for them in elections - พรรค การเมือง
  • resign: to leave a job permanently - ลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
  • response: an answer - การตอบ
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