Anutin said yesterday (Feb 13) that Bhumjaithai was honoured to welcome Pheu Thai for talks on government formation, reports the Bangkok Post. While the official election results have yet to be announced, he said discussions had already taken place to prevent a prolonged political vacuum.
“Based on the election outcome, although it has not yet been formally endorsed, we do not want to see a vacuum for too long. We have held preliminary discussions and reached a conclusion that Pheu Thai is willing to support Bhumjaithai as the core party in forming the government, in line with the agreed timeline,” he said.
Anutin added that both parties are focused on the future, expressing confidence that their combined pool of capable personnel would be sufficient to steer the country towards a stable and promising future in line with public expectations.
“Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai are looking ahead. The quality personnel of both parties should be able to work together to push Thailand towards a stable future that meets the expectations of the Thai people. From now on, we will hold more discussions to finalise the details of government formation,” he said.
Yodchanan Wongsawat, a prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, briefly thanked Anutin for giving the party the opportunity to enter negotiations.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Jantararuangtong said the party stood ready to support Bhumjaithai as the core party in forming the new administration, echoing the prime minister’s remarks.
Further discussions on specific arrangements would take place at a later stage, he said, adding that the meeting was also to congratulate Bhumjaithai on its success in the recent election.
Anutin said that any misunderstandings between the two parties in the past were normal in politics and should now be set aside in order to move the country forward.
Mr Yodchanan, ccompanied by Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert, prime ministerial candidate and election director Suriya Jungrungruankit and party strategist Phumtham Wechayachai, arrived at the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters at 2:57pm.
The delegation responded to an invitation from the Bhumjaithai Party to discuss the possibility of joining a coaltion government.
Earlier, at 2:40pm, Anutin arrived at the party headquarters with Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Both declined to speak to the media.
Shortly afterward, Anutin, Mr Sihasak, and Bhumjaithai secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob came down to personally welcome the Pheu Thai delegation.
Pheu Thai, which secured 74 seats, is the third largest party in the House. Observers were watching closely whether Bhumjaithai with about 193 seats in the 500-member lower house, will also extend an invitation to the Klatham Party, following reports that a sequence of invitations was planned -beginning with Pheu Thai, followed by Klatham and the Democrat Party.
Klatham Party, led by de-facto leader Capt Thamanat Prompow, finished fourth, with 58 seats while the Democrat Party, led by party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, gained 22 seats.
Earlier on Thursday, three smaller parties - the New Democracy Party, the Economic Party and the New Party, announced their intention to join the coalition and support Anutin as prime minister.
The Palang Pracharath Party, however, has not yet declared its stance, despite earlier talks with Bhumjaithai leaders.
All parties are currently awaiting the Election Commission’s official certification of the poll results, expected within the 60 day legal timeframe.
Most recently, senior figures from both sides - Mr Yodchanan and Anutin - entered a private meeting to negotiate the terms of a coalition agreement. It remains to be seen whether the talks will conclude successfully.