The Pheu Thai Party aims to finalise its stance on the selection of the House speaker on Tuesday, a day ahead of a meeting with the coalition-leading Move Forward Party (MFP) to solve the dispute.
Both parties want the position of House Speaker but they need to settle their differences before the opening of parliament on July 3. The date was confirmed with an announcement published yesterday on the Royal Gazette website.
His Majesty the King will preside over the opening ceremony, according to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
A day later, members of parliament will vote to choose the speaker of the House, who will also serve as parliamentary president, and two deputies.
It was reported earlier that Pheu Thai was open to letting the MFP have the speaker's position as long as the runner-up party was given both the deputy posts. However, Pheu Thai later denied that any such accommodation had been reached.
Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday that party executives would meet on Tuesday afternoon to hear a briefing on the results of the May 14 election and the timeline for the opening of the House. They will also finalise their decision for a speaker candidate.
The matter has been a key talking point among the eight-party coalition seeking to establish a government behind the MFP and its prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat.
Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said he was paying heed to the wishes of party MPs-elect and members, most of whom believe Pheu Thai should have the speaker's post.
Mr Phumtham declined to say whether the meeting on Tuesday would produce the name of a candidate.
But he said a clear decision would be made by the time Pheu Thai and MFP members meet on Wednesday.
"While it will depend on how the discussion proceeds, I believe a direction that will be productive for formation of a government will be found," Mr Phumtham said.
Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a co-founder of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, the predecessor of the MFP, said Wednesday's discussion would mark a critical juncture.