Likely Two Largest Parties Open To Forming Coalition Post Election

Here are some of the latest developments ahead of the election to be held on Sunday May 14.

• Pheu Thai PM candidate Paetongtarn has laid down three rules for her party, which is leading opinion polls, to form a governing coalition. The PM must be from Pheu Thai, the party must oversee all major ministries and coalition parties must accept its policies. She also said that her party wouldn’t cooperate with the current PM Prayut and his deputy Prawit. (See link)
• A senior member of Move Forward said that a coalition with Pheu Thai could form a government with more than 300 seats. Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn confirmed that an alliance with Move Forward is still possible, which is now more likely as Move Forward has said it doesn’t want to oversee any particular ministry.
• Paetongtarn from Pheu Thai said that her party is not planning to scrap the controversial lese majeste law regarding insulting the royal family, but that it would be debated in parliament under her government.
• The Election Commission is expecting an 80% voter turnout.
• A candidate from the military-aligned PPRP has asked the Election Commission to look into prohibiting Move Forward PM candidate Pita from politics as he allegedly didn’t disclose ownership in a media company that closed in 2007, according to the Bangkok Post. Pita has been ahead in the polls as preferred PM in recent weeks.