BANGKOK, Aug 16 – Thailand’s largest opposition, the People’s Party, will not support the ruling coalition’s prime ministerial candidate during Friday’s vote to elect the head of the government, party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said on Thursday, reported Sputnik.
“The People’s Party’s faction, which is the largest parliamentary faction, will continue to lead the parliamentary opposition and will not support the ruling coalition in the prime ministerial election at Friday’s parliamentary session,” Ruengpanyawut said, as quoted by the Thairath newspaper.
The People’s Party is the successor to the progressive Move Forward Party, which was dissolved last week by a constitutional court ruling on charges of undermining the political system of the Thai constitutional monarchy.
The party lost several lawmakers as the same court ruling banned its former leaders from any political activity for 10 years. Despite this, its 143-member faction remains the largest in the Lower House of Parliament.
On Wednesday, Thai constitutional court suspended prime minister Srettha Thavisin on charges of violating constitutional ethics of the country.
Parliamentary factions will confirm their nominees for the prime minister’s post on Thursday, and the first candidate nominated by the ruling coalition will be voted on at Friday’s parliamentary session. The People’s Party has not nominated its candidate.
