PTP Could Make Unilateral Choices In Gov't Formation If PPRP Fails To Resolve Internal Issues

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned that the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) may need to take more initiative in the cabinet formation process if rival factions of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) fail to resolve their differences in short order. According to the official, the PTP could choose one or neither of the factions while allocating ministerial portfolios.

• Speculation that the PPRP could be swapped for the opposition Democrat Party (DP) has been doing the rounds for several days now. Khaosod quoted a PTP source today as saying that the PPRP will likely be excluded from the governing coalition, but a breakaway faction led by Thamanat Prompow will be allowed to stay, while the DP (25 MPs) will be brought in.
• This comes after a split in the PPRP, which prior to the 2023 election was the main party in the junta-controlled government led by General Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Rebel Secretary General Thamanat claimed the support of 29 PPRP MPs on declaring his imminent exit from the party amid simmering tensions with its leader Prawit Wongsuwon and his loyalists.
• Numerous source reports have also pointed to a conflict between the PTP's patron Thaksin Shinawatra and Prawit Wongsuwon. In an exclusive interview with the Nation yesterday, Thaksin said that their rift "began years ago when Prawit applied to be the chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), but he opposed it because Prawit was a military man and likely lacked legal knowledge."