Bangkok: After failing to secure the support of parliament for its prime ministerial candidate, Thailand's election-winning Move Forward party will allow alliance partner, the Pheu Thai party, to take the initiative in forming a government, a senior official said on Friday.
Move Forward would support any candidate Pheu Thai would put forth for prime minister in a parliamentary vote scheduled for July 27, according to party secretary Chaithawat Tulathon at a press conference.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old leader of Move Forward, had received support from the eight-party alliance for the position of premier, but he was unable to secure it on July 13 and lawmakers rejected his re-nomination six days later.
Also Read: Ukraine's Culture Minister Offers to Step Down Amid Wartime Spending Concerns
Although the alliance needs the support of more than half of the combined chambers, including the upper house Senate appointed by the military, which rejected Pita's bid, Move Forward and Pheu Thai each have 151 and 141 seats in the 500-member lower house.
Also Read: Investigation Launched into Former Pakistani PMs Leaked Secrets
In a resounding public rejection of the past nearly nine years of military-backed governments, the liberal Move Forward party swept to victory in the May elections, overwhelming its conservative rivals.
Also Read: Pakistan Puts Food Security First, Supports Black Sea Grain Deal
The country's strong royalist military and old money elites were put to the test by its progressive policies, which included ending business monopolies and amending the contentious royal insults law.