Pheu Thai dismisses leadership reshuffle rumour

Pheu Thai dismisses leadership reshuffle rumour

Key members of the Pheu Thai Party attend its general assembly in Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)
Key members of the Pheu Thai Party attend its general assembly in Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

The race to set up a post-election coalition government is still on despite rumours that the Pheu Thai Party is considering making changes to its leadership in preparation to sit as the opposition.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said on Sunday that since the party has the highest number of MPs in parliament, Pheu Thai has the right to form a government before the party which came in second place.

When asked about reports that Pheu Thai is planning to replace its leader and preparing to lead the opposition in parliament, Mr Phumtham said the party "did not look that far".

"If we change our leaders now, it means we are throwing in the towel," he said.

Voters queue at the 32nd polling station of Bangkok's 13th Constituency. Chanat Katanyu

On the proposal for a national unity government, Mr Phumtham said he believes a democratic solution will be agreed on, adding the Pheu Thai-led seven-party alliance remains intact.

He lashed out at the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) for trying to compete in the next government's formation by citing its popular vote, saying that goes against long-standing political tradition.

Buddhipongse Punnakanta, an executive member of the PPRP, expressed confidence that "things will fall into place" after the results of the March 24 general election are officially endorsed and announced on May 9 by the Election Commission (EC).

However, he refused to say if the New Economics Party's political stance will affect PPRP's chances of forming a rival coalition because the EC has yet to finalise results of the party list seats.

The NEP, which failed to win a seat in the constituency system but is expected to win six seats from the party list system, reiterated its stance on Saturday that it will stay with the Pheu Thai-bloc and will not vote for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as the next prime minister.

Meanwhile, reruns of elections were held on Sunday at six polling stations in Bangkok, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Yasothon and Lampang.

The Election Commission (EC) ordered the reruns after the number of marked ballots did not match the voter turnout figures on March 24.

The vote count at Sunday's rerun at the 32nd voting station in Constituency 13 in Bang Kapi district showed that Parit "Itim" Wacharasindhu, the nephew of former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, and PPRP candidate Thitiphat Chotidechanan were tied with 96 votes each.

According to unofficial results of the March 24 election in this constituency, Mr Parit came fourth with 17,958 votes, while Ms Thitiphat won with 27,489 votes.

The new vote count results will next be added to results from all other polling stations in the same constituency to determine which candidate actually won in the constituency.

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