All eyes are now on whether the military-linked United Thai Nation Party (UTN) and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) will today be invited to join a new alliance led by Pheu Thai which yesterday parted ways with the Move Forward Party (MFP).
Pheu Thai dumped the MFP and pulled out of the MoU it signed along with the seven original coalition allies seeking to form a government.
The party will now proceed to form its own coalition because the MFP insists on amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew announced the move yesterday afternoon.
Fiery words: Protesters set fire to effigies outside the Pheu Thai Party head office to vent their anger at the party’s decision to abandon the Move Forward Party as a coalition partner. The protesters shouted ‘traitor’ at the Pheu Thai Party. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
He told the media that after the MFP failed to get the needed parliamentary support for its leader and sole PM candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, the eight-party alliance directed Pheu Thai to garner more support from other parties and senators so a government could be formed.
"It turns out they do not accept any change to Section 112 and some parties even said they will not join a government with Move Forward anyway," Dr Cholnan said.
So, Pheu Thai told the MFP during a meeting yesterday that it was withdrawing from the eight-party alliance and would nominate its own prime ministerial candidate, Srettha Thavisin.
"Pheu Thai and Mr Srettha will keep Section 112 intact and the new government will not have Move Forward in its coalition," Dr Cholnan said.
"Pheu Thai will try to gather enough votes [in parliament] and Move Forward will be in the opposition," he said.
Dr Cholnan said he would announce which parties would make up the new coalition today.
Asked whether the UTN and the PPRP would be invited to join, Dr Cholnan said: "Just wait and see."
According to observers, if Pheu Thai includes either or both the PPRP and the UTN, it can expect to face heavy criticism for reneging on its word before the May 14 election that it would not work with the so-called "uncle" parties, referring to those linked with military leaders involved in the 2014 coup.
The "uncles" refer to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the former UTN chief adviser and its prime ministerial candidate, and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the PPRP leader.
Dr Cholnan also expressed confidence Mr Srettha would get the required backing to become prime minister from the joint sitting of MPs and senators in the next round of voting tentatively scheduled for tomorrow.
Dr Cholnan also said Pheu Thai would not mind if the MFP does not back Mr Srettha.
"The MFP has the right to vote whichever way it wants," he said.
Under the constitution, a PM candidate needs the support of at least half the 750 members of both the lower and upper chambers of parliament, or 376 votes in total.
However, all eyes are also on whether the Constitutional Court will today accept a petition seeking its ruling on whether parliament's decision on July 19 to reject the renomination of Mr Pita as prime minister is constitutional. If the petition is accepted, the vote will not occur until the court's ruling.
Dr Cholnan added that a Pheu Thai-led government would amend the charter, because it obstructed the government's formation.
Afterwards, the government would return power to the people and call a new election.
He said a Pheu Thai-led government would support some of the policies proposed by the MFP such as a marriage equality bill, a progressive liquor bill, and replacing military conscription with voluntary recruitment.
UTN secretary-general Akanat Promphan said yesterday that once Pheu Thai has made it clear Section 112 will be left alone, the party would be ready to hold talks.
"But as to whether we will join, several issues still need to be discussed first," Mr Akanat said, adding Gen Prayut had already quit the UTN, so there was no point in referring to it as an "uncle" party.
Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said he was ready to vote for a PM candidate from the new bloc, and that Mr Srettha is expected to be elected as the new PM.
The MFP and Pheu Thai were the main players in the original eight-party bloc formed by the MFP. Mr Pita failed to win parliament's backing after being nominated for prime minister on July 13. The MFP then allowed Pheu Thai to take the lead in forming a coalition.
Most senators and many MPs disagreed with the MFP's insistence on changing Section 112.