Pheu Thai Accepts Move Forward's Coalition Talks Offer, Pita Still Faces Legal Challenge

Thailand's main opposition Pheu Thai party has agreed to Move Forward's proposal to form a coalition government after the two pro-democracy parties outperformed in a general election held over the weekend, with Move Forward confirmed as the winner after the vote count officially ended.

• Thai voters delivered a clear rejection of the rule of junta-backed parties, handing a sweeping victory to Pheu Thai and Move Forward, both of which have vowed to demilitarise Thai politics.
• Move Forward's leader Pita Limjaroenrat unveiled his plan to team up with Pheu Thai and four other parties, which would give the coalition a combined 309 seats in the House of Representatives, which is composed of 500 members.
• However, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the process of government formation. Crucially, Thai PM is nominated by a majority by a joint session of both houses of parliament, including the 250-member military-appointed Senate.
• Pita has called on Senators to respect the will of the voters and greenlight the formation of a pro-democracy government, which suggests that he will not be immediately seeking compromise with pro-military parties.
• As a reminder, Pita still faces a legal challenge to his eligibility to contest the election. A Palang Pracharat Party candidate last week petitioned the Election Commission to disqualify Pita over holding shares in a media company.