People’s party sets seven conditions for supporting an interim PM

The People’s Party has no objection to the prime ministerial candidates from the Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai parties being appointed as interim prime minister, if Paetongtarn Shinawatra is removed from office by the Constitutional Court, said deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul.

They are ready to vote for either of the two candidates - Anutin Charnvirakul of Bhumjaithai or Chaikasem Nitisiri of Pheu Thai - as interim prime minister, provided they accept the party’s seven preconditions. One of those conditions is that the government must hold a referendum to approve the drafting of a new constitution by a charter-drafting assembly.

She said that the party also wants an interim government to resolve some of the pressing problems, before the House is dissolved which, they say, should be before the end of this year.

Sirikanya said that the party has been discussing a possible scenario in which the Constitutional Court removes the prime minister from the office. This would require the nomination of a new prime minister, but Sirikanya noted that the situation may less straight forward than before, as coalition parties will bargain aggressively for more cabinet seats.

As the party with the most MPs, she said it will try to make use of its decisive votes to steer the country out of the political deadlock.