The Move Forward Party has stressed that it will not form a government with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party as its coalition partners.
The stance was agreed upon at a meeting of MFP MPs yesterday. It was formally announced through the party's official Line channel after PPRP and UTN representatives separately met with key Pheu Thai figures, which will now be leading the effort to form the next government.
Both the PPRP and UTN told Pheu Thai at the meeting that they could not be a part of a government line-up with any party which is seeking to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law.
In MFP's announcement, the party ruled out partnering up with the PPRP and UTN, calling them "remnants of a dictatorship".
The PPRP is led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, while the UTN is the party of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also its prime ministerial candidate. Both men were key figures in the last coup d'etat on May 22, 2014.
Voters showed at the May 14 general election that they wanted different people in government, and the MFP, as the election winner, is determined to form the next government and ensure it remains in power, the announcement said.
Any attempt to form a government that goes against the people's wishes would erode their faith in democracy, it added.
Meanwhile, outspoken MFP MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn said on Facebook yesterday that his party's push to amend the lese majeste law is being used as an excuse for its political rivals to block its rise to power.
However, he said, the MFP is prepared to listen to senators' concerns about amending Section 112.
As such, senators should clearly spell out why they cannot back the push to amend the controversial clause.
Mr Wiroj said if the reasons do not fundamentally clash with the MFP's stance, the party is willing to be more flexible on the matter.
He insisted the MFP has been flexible over the issue, reminding the public that the MFP had actually agreed to leave the issue out of the memorandum of understanding signed by the MFP and seven other parties.
The MoU contains policies the parties plan to pursue when they form the next government. Mr Wiroj said the policies are not set in stone.