Thaksin 'happy' over efforts to form pro-democracy coalition

Thaksin 'happy' over efforts to form pro-democracy coalition

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan leads a press conference on Wednesday to announce a Pheu Thai Party-led coalition has enough votes to form a new government. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan leads a press conference on Wednesday to announce a Pheu Thai Party-led coalition has enough votes to form a new government. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

Thaksin Shinawatra said he was "happy" after seven parties collected enough votes to form a "democratic front" coalition government.

The former prime minister tweeted on Wednesday that he was "happy with Thailand" after the seven parties agreed to form a coalition with more than half of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives.

His message came after the Pheu Thai Party signed agreements to bring six other parties under its umbrella with an estimated total of 255 MPs -- enough to form a government, although not enough to elect the prime minister. The vote for PM also includes 250 junta-appointed senators, meaning that at least 376 votes are required -- something the coalition will struggle to achieve.

Six parties signed an agreement to align themselves with Pheu Thai on Tuesday and the New Economics Party confirmed later in the day that it would join the so-called democratic front.

Thanskin called on other parties to refrain from using him as a litmus test for their support. "I just want to be a supporter for the country to return to democracy," he wrote.

On the same day that Pheu Thai announced its alliance, the board of Armed Forces Preparatory School alumni resolved to withdraw his alumnus achievement awards, according to an army source.

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