Ruangkrai Expands Complaint Against Pita, Pheu Thai & MFP Tussle Over Speaker's Seat

Ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MP and self-declared "political activist" Ruangkrai Leekitwattana expanded his complaint to the Election Commission (EC) against Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat over the latter's allegedly illegal holdings of shares in a media company.

• The activist has asked the body to dissolve all eight parties forming the MFP-led coalition, arguing that their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) binds them together. Pita and his allies continue to deny the allegations, while Pheu Thai leader warned Rungkrai that making false allegations is a criminal offence.
• Meanwhile, local press reports suggest that the two major parties in the emerging coalition are fighting over House speakership. While the coalition agreed to designate Move Forward's Pita as its prime ministerial candidate, Pheu Thai reportedly wants to nominate its member to become Speaker of the House.
• This comes after MFP's Piyabutr Saengkanokkul suggested that his party might want to keep House speakership for itself in order to avoid problems with tabling amendments to the lese majeste law in parliament. Changing the legislation protecting the Thai monarchy has not been included in the coalition's MoU.