THAILAND: PTP Backs Paetongtarn For PM, Vote Tomorrow @ 1000 Local Time

The governing Pheu Thai Party (PTP) has confirmed that Paetongtarn Shinawatra is their PM candidate ahead of a vote taking place on 15 August to choose ousted PM Thavasin Srettha's successor. Voting due to take place at 1000 local time (2300ET, 0400BST, 1200JST). As we noted previously (see 'THAILAND: Coalition To Announce PM Candidate At 11:00BST/17:00ICT, Paetongtarn Seen As Front-Runner' 1004BST, and 'THAILAND: Latest Reports Claim Paetongtarn Remains In Race For PM Post' 0901BST), the daughter of former PM and influential billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra came as a somewhat unexpected choice for the PTP. 

• In the initial aftermath of Srettha's dismissal from office by the Constitutional Court, it was former Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri whose name rose to the top of speculation as to who could be PTP's PM candidate. 
• English-language Thai outlet The Nation reports, "According to party sources, Pheu Thai convened a meeting of its MPs at Parliament on Thursday morning to have them endorse Chaikasem but the MPs chose Paetongtarn instead. Paetongtarn was chosen as a much younger and healthier candidate, while Chaikasem reportedly has health issues. Observers said the MPs feared that Chaikasem could face another Constitutional Court ruling regarding his integrity, as he was the attorney-general who had ordered public prosecutors to drop the bribery case against Pichit Chuenban."
• To become PM, Paetongtarn needs a majority among the 493 House of Representatives members. The governing coalition commands 314 seats. With the votes of the PTP, alongside Bhumjaithai and Palang Pracharat (both of which have said they will back the PTP candidate), Paetongtarn will have enough votes to become PM.