Pheu Thai leader says party's 74 MPs will back government in December censure debate

Pheu Thai rules out defections

Julapun, who is also labour minister, spoke in Udon Thani province on Tuesday, the Bangkok Post reported. He said nearly six months of working together had shown strong cooperation between the coalition's two main parties and a shared direction on government policy. He said Pheu Thai had no internal divisions over political support and had never had MPs break rank during votes.

As a coalition partner, he said, the party was prepared to support the government as a matter of political courtesy and a commitment to addressing public problems. He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and all 17 ministers facing the censure motion would be able to explain their decisions and performance. Julapun said Pheu Thai would listen to the opposition's arguments before the vote but remained fully confident in the cabinet. He dismissed speculation that the coalition might expand, saying any such decision would rest with the prime minister.

Opposition targets Bhumjaithai ministers

The Nation reported on Oct 7 that the opposition was preparing to file a motion targeting more than 10 ministers individually, all holding cabinet posts allocated to Bhumjaithai. Almost all of the targets were expected to be among 13 ministers named in complaint files on alleged Senate election collusion handled by Central Investigation and Inquiry Committee No. 26. The report said the opposition might challenge Anutin as interior minister rather than as prime minister, because a successful vote against him as premier would require the whole cabinet to leave office.

The planned agenda covers flood management in Bangkok and other provinces, the Senate collusion allegations and the appointment of Pol Capt Piya Raksakul as DSI director-general, according to the same report. The strategy is intended to test whether coalition partners, particularly Pheu Thai, would support the targeted ministers. Under Section 151, the motion requires at least 100 MPs, or one-fifth of the House. The People's Party can submit it alone and may let other opposition parties add their names afterwards.

Coalition numbers

Bhumjaithai leads the coalition with 192 seats and Pheu Thai has 74 in the 500-seat House, the World Socialist Web Site reported. Another 14 minor parties are also in the coalition, including Palang Pracharath with five seats and United Thai Nation with two. The cabinet sworn in on April 6 gives Bhumjaithai 31 positions and Pheu Thai nine.

AP's running count, with 93% of polling stations reporting after the Feb 8 vote, had Bhumjaithai on about 194 seats and Pheu Thai on 76. A simple majority of 251 seats is needed to elect a prime minister and form a government. AP put the People's Party second with 116 seats. The Nation said the People's Party can file a Section 151 motion on its own. AP said party-list totals were subject to change until the vote count was complete.

What happens next

Parit Wacharasindhu, the opposition's chief whip from the People's Party, said the opposition remained focused on the no-confidence motion under Section 151. Julapun said the proceedings are expected to run from Dec 7 to 11.