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The Move Forward Party (MFP) said it would vote against the prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party because Pheu Thai was forming a government with military-linked parties.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon told reporters at the parliament on Monday that the election-winning party did not base its decision on the prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai but on MFP’s standpoint that it would not support the parties of the “uncles”.

He was apparently referring to the Palang Pracharath Party led by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and the United Thai Nation Party which earlier had caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime ministerial candidate.

Pheu Thai planned to nominate former property tycoon Srettha Thavisin as its candidate during the parliamentary vote for prime minister on Tuesday.

Mr Chaithawat said MFP MPs made the decision after the Pheu Thai Party announced its 11-party coalition.

The coalition led by Pheu Thai clearly included the Palang Pracharath and the United Thai Nation Party that prolonged the power of coupmakers, he said.

That contradicted the decision of most people who showed through the general election that they wanted a different government bloc to end the prolongation of military power, Mr Chaithawat said.

The inter-bloc coalition would not resolve conflicts but was the continuation of a political movement that would not let sovereignty belong to the people, the MFP secretary-general said. 

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn will seek a court order late this month to close Facebook services in the kingdom, accusing the operator of failing to block fraudulent advertisements that caused huge damage to people.

Mr Chaiwut told a press conference on Monday that his ministry had tried to ask Facebook to block fraudulent advertisements but to no avail. Therefore, he planned to ask a court by this month’s end to close Facebook services in Thailand within seven days because, he said, Facebook did not screen the people who bought its advertising space.

The minister said that fraudulent advertisements included invitations to investment projects promising unrealistically highly profits with references to well-known people and successful investors, along with the logos of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

There were also advertisements for products that were not delivered or not correctly delivered, Mr Chaiwut said.

There were about 200,000 victims of such fraudulent advertisements on Facebook and their damage exceeded 100 billion baht, the minister said.

Fugitive former PM expected at Don Mueng airport Tuesday morning

The Royal Thai Police Office has confirmation that fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will arrive in Thailand on Tuesday, as earlier reported, national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said on Monday.

The police chief said details of the aircraft flight number and the passengers were expected on Monday afternoon.

He did not say which airport Thaksin would arrive through, but it was earlier reported he was expected to return on a private plane and land at Don Mueang airport on Tuesday about 9am.

Pol Gen Damrongsak said the police units involved in his reception would go through a rehearsal on Monday, including planned security measures and arrangements for his transfer from the airport to the Immigration Police Bureau for the authentication process.

The former prime minister would then be taken to Metropolitan Police Division 2 headquarters where a record would be made of his arrival. From there, he would be escorted to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, to be confirmed as a person wanted under court warrants.

The court would then issue a detention warrant. With the document, Thaksin would then be handed over to the Corrections Department and moved to the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he would be detained  pending further legal proceedings.

Police security would be tight throughout the procedures, Pol Gen Damrongsak said.

A large number of supporters from other provinces were expected to greet Thaksin, and police have prepared gathering places for them, he said. There were no reports pointing to possible violence, but  police would remain on high alert, he said.

Asked about speculation that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, his younger sister, would accompany Thaksin, Pol Gen Damrongsak said he had no reports about this.

He said police were ready for Thaksin’s arrival. He would be provided with the same security as other important people, to prevent any possible untoward incidents.

Office of the Judiciary spokesman Sorawis Limparangsi said Thaksin was expected at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions about 10.30am.

Thaksin would then be taken to a courtroom, with only the plaintiffs and the defendant’s relatives allowed inside. No news reporters would be allowed inside.

Reporters would have to wait outside the fence, and file their live reports from there. TV stations’ outside broadcast vans would be allowed to park on the Sanam Luang side of the court.

The Supreme Court would issue a press statement outlining details of its consideration of Thaksin’s cases  after the court proceedings ended, Mr Sorawis said.

Sources said the Supreme Court held an internal meeting to discuss security measures on Monday morning and were to discuss the matter with police in the afternoon.

Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008, shortly before the Supreme Court sentenced him for helping his then-wife, Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, buy state-owned prime land in the Ratchadaphisek area at a discount.

Thaksin posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had originally planned to return to Thailand by Aug 10, but a needed medical checkup meant a delay of two weeks.

Thaksin faces prison sentences of 10 years in three cases in which he was convicted in absentia by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Two military parties tied to Prayut, Prawit included in alliance

Pheu Thai and 10 other parties, two linked to the military, on Monday afternoon announced a coalition with 314 votes in the House and Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin as their candidate for prime minister.

Pheu Thai, which came second in the May 14 general election with 141 elected MPs, is the biggest component of the 11-party alliance.

Three other allies are Bhumjaithai with 71 seats, Palang Pracharath (PPRP) with 40 seats and United Thai Nation (UTN) with 36 seats. They came third, fourth and fifth in the election.

The seven other partners are Chartthaipattana (10 MPs), Prachachat (9), Pue Thai Rumphlang (2) Chartpattanakla (2), Seri Ruam Thai (1), Plung Sungkom Mai (1) and Thai Counties (1).

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew told a press conference at the parliament about 1.30pm that Pheu Thai would have eight ministers and nine deputy ministers, including the PM’s Office ministry.

Bhumjaithai will have four ministers and four deputy ministers; PPRP two ministers and two deputies; UTN two ministers and two deputies; Chartthaipattana one minister and Prachachat one minister.

PPRP has caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon as its leader, while UTN earlier had caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime ministerial candidate.

The coalition parties agreed to treat Pheu Thai’s policies as important polices for the new government. They include the digital wallet policy, 600-baht minimum daily wage and higher farm prices, the Pheu Thai leader said.

They would have a constitution-drafting assembly set up to amend the constitution to make it “more democratic”, he said.

Section 112 of the Criminal Code (the lese majeste law) and other chapters concerning the royal institution would remain intact, Dr Cholnan said.

The Pheu Thai leader said he acknowledged the heavy criticism of Pheu Thai for teaming up with parties in the caretaker government. “But we will join forces to work efficiently”, he said, in apparent reference to PPRP and UTN.

At the beginning of the press conference, Dr Cholnan stated clearly that the coalition would not include the Move Forward Party.

MFP won the general election with 151 House seats. Pheu Thai withdrew from the MFP-led coalition alliance early this month.

About 190 senators would vote in support of Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party as prime minister, senator Wanchai Sornsiri said on Monday.

He said Mr Srettha would be comfortably endorsed as prime minister, with support from a majority of the Senate.

Mr Wanchai said he based his projection on conversations with fellow senators over the weekend. A majority, about 190 in total, would vote for Mr Srettha when he is nominated for parliamentary approval on Tuesday.

“They want the country to move forward. Nobody will pose an obstacle to tomorrow’s voting. Some of them may hold different opinons, but that is the way democracy goes,” he said.

On a suggestion that some senators still had doubts about Mr Srettha’s qualifications, Mr Wanchai said this was normal, citing the case of Move Forward Party’s prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, who had both proponents and opponents.

He said some senators and MPs would speak against Mr Srettha on Tuesday, but most senators would certainly vote for him.

The selection of the prime minister is a matter for all 750 members of parliament to decide, not just individuals, Mr Wanchai added.

Asked why he was so certain as many as 190 senators would vote for Mr Srettha, Mr Wanchai said that with the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties being included in the coalition there was no reason for senators not to vote for him.

The Pheu Thai Party is expected to announce a 14-party alliance at the parliament on Monday afternoon.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong said on Monday morning the party would announce its proposed coalition government lineup at a press conference on Monday afternoon. Representatives of about 12 political parties were expected to be there, he said.

He did not know if the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) would participate or not.

Sources said there would be 14 parties in the coalition.

Most of the coalition allies would be represented by their leaders and secretaries-general. PPRP leader Prawit Wongsuwon, who is a caretaker deputy prime minister, would not be present but PPRP secretary-general Thamanat Prompow might attend on his behalf, sources said.

Srettha Thavisin, a prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, would not be present but would attend a meeting of Pheu Thai MPs, together with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, another prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, at the party headquarters at 3pm, sources said.

The expected 14-party coalition alliance would have 317 votes in the House and would comprise Pheu Thai with 141 House seats, Bhumjaithai (71), PPRP (40), United Thai Nation (36), Chartthaipattana (10), Prachachat (9), Pue Thai Rumphlang (2), Chartpattanakla (2), Seri Ruam Thai (1), Plung Sungkom Mai (1), Thai Counties (1), New Democracy (1), New (1) and Thai Teachers for the People (1).

It would need 58 more votes in the parliament to ensure a simple majority at Tuesday’s expected joint sitting of the 500-member elected House of Representatives and the 249-member appointed Senate, when Pheu Thai will propose a candidate for prime minister. 

Pheu Thai came second in the May 14 general election. It withdrew from its alliance with the election winning  Move Forward Party, which has 151 House seats, on Aug 2.

Inclusion of PPRP, UTN parties in alliance is ‘main reason’

Red-shirt co-leader Nattawut Saikuar, secretary-general of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has declared an end to his role as director of the Pheu Thai Family, citing the inclusion of Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties in the coalition government proposed by the Pheu Thai Party as the main reason.

“For me, the decision to end my role as director of the Pheu Thai Family is an injury in my heart. This is my home. I was born here, grew up here and have been fighting here. All the people in this house are my brothers. But when the time comes, I have to make a decision,” he said.

Mr Nattawut was speaking during an online news programme on YouTube hosted by TV presenter Sorayuth Suthassanachinda on Monday morning.

He said he had informed senior figures in the Pheu Thai Party of his decision. They included Paetongtarn Shinawatra, head of the Pheu Thai Family, Srettha Thavisin, the party’s prime ministerial candidate, and former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra.

Asked whether his decision was a result of Pheu Thai having included the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties in the coalition it is forming, Mr Nattawut replied, “That is the main reason.”

He said he was confident Mr Srettha would finally get parliamentary endorsement as prime minister.

Mr Nattawut reassured red-shirt members of the UDD who remain staunch supporters of Pheu Thai that his decision would not cause any damage to the party.

He said he had waited before announcing his decision, until he was sure the party had managed to garner sufficient votes for Mr Srettha to be elected prime minister.

Mr Nattawut said he would also ask Move Forward, with 151 MPs, to support the push for amendment of the constitution and legal action against those responsible for dispersing past UDD protests, resulting in deaths and injuries.

Srettha Thavisin, Pheu Thai’s main prime ministerial candidate, on Sunday defended his business track record and expressed hope that his nomination would be endorsed by parliament during a vote on Tuesday.

The property developer-turned-politician was recently accused by whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit of unethical business dealings, including land deals, while working with real estate developer Sansiri, raising the question of whether Mr Srettha can be trusted running the country.

In response, Mr Srettha said that as a political figure, he is open to criticism.

However, he is confident that he and Sansiri never engaged in any shady land purchases, noting he had adhered to good corporate governance for over three decades. He denies Mr Chuvit’s claims.

Mr Srettha resigned from all positions at Sansiri in April ahead of the May 14 general election to pursue his political ambition with the Pheu Thai Party.

He said he had clarified the matter raised by Mr Chuvit and believed MPs and senators would use discretion when voting. He said he had complete trust in the Pheu Thai Party, which was negotiating with prospective coalition partners.

He added that key policies of every potential partner would be incorporated into government policies and Pheu Thai’s controversial digital wallet programme would be accepted and implemented by its allies.

He declined to disclose information on the allocation of cabinet seats, an issue being discussed on social media. “Don’t be hasty. Let’s take it step-by-step. But I’m confident that Pheu Thai and its partners will propose qualified people,” he said.

Pheu Thai list-MP Sutin Klungsang said on Sunday the party has met all conditions raised by MPs and senators, and that he sees no reason why Mr Srettha will not be elected on Tuesday.

He said Mr Srettha’s qualifications were examined before he was named as candidate. The party also looked into the allegations made by Mr Chuvit and found them to be untrue, he added.

In other news, the Democrat Party, with 25 MPs, will hold a meeting today to decide how to vote in the PM selection, a source said.

One group of MPs who opposed joining the Pheu Thai-led bloc might ask the Democrat Party to abstain from voting or allow a free vote on the matter, the source said.

Other reports say that as many as 21 Democrat MPs want to support a Pheu Thai candidate so the party is invited to join the government.

A source from the Pheu Thai Party said there is lobbying for the defence portfolio to be set aside for the Palang Pracharath Party, which has yet to join the Pheu Thai-led alliance but has shown support.

Senators want to hear him at meet

Senators now expect Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin to respond in parliament to questions about his ethical standards following various accusations made against him.

They want to hear from him before they decide whether to support him in tomorrow’s prime ministerial vote. Mr Sretta has previously expressed some reluctance to show, as he is not an elected member of the House or Senate.

Pheu Thai needs about 60 votes from the 249-member Senate for its prime ministerial candidate to win the parliamentary vote and become Thailand’s next prime minister.

In the case the candidate nominated for Tuesday’s vote fails to muster enough support from the Senate, that candidate cannot be re-nominated, in line with the precedent set on July 19, when the nomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat for a second vote was rejected.

Senator Somchai Sawangkarn on Sunday said he wanted a clear answer from Pheu Thai as to which of its three prime ministerial candidates will actually be nominated.

He was responding to rumours that the party was considering swapping Mr Srettha with either Paetongtarn Shinawatra or Chaikasem Nitisiri, after accusations by whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit against Mr Srettha raised questions over his business dealings.

If Pheu Thai wants to switch to a new candidate, the Senate should be informed in advance so it will have enough time to prepare to scrutinise the candidate’s qualification before the vote takes place, said Mr Somchai.

“If senators are left with insufficient time to examine the new candidate’s qualification, they might not vote for him or her,” he said.

“If Pheu Thai insists on nominating Mr Srettha, he should come to Tuesday’s joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate to deliver a statement demonstrating his vision as a would-be prime minister, and respond to questions which may be asked before the vote,” Mr Somchai said.

Mr Srettha’s response to Mr Chuvit’s accusations was not enough to address the questions the public may have about the alleged misconduct, said Mr Somchai.

He added that many senators who had already promised to throw their weight behind the party are now doubting their position because of the accusations made by Mr Chuvit.

He was referring to alleged tax evasion carried out by Sansiri Plc, the property development company for which Mr Srettha had served as CEO prior to throwing his hat in the political ring.

“The chances [of Mr Srettha winning the support of the senators] stand at fifty-fifty.

“It will largely depend on how the party handles the situation in the days to come,” he said.

Sen Seree Suwanpanont said if Mr Srettha doesn’t show up to answer questions in person, the senators will have to base their decision only what Mr Srettha’s representative has to say.

In addition to questions surrounding Mr Srettha’s ethics, a number of senators are eager to ask the Pheu Thai’s candidate about the party’s plan to implement its 10,000-baht digital wallet policy, to ensure the policy won’t hurt the country’s finances, he said.

Meanwhile, Sen Direkrit Jenklongtham said he believed most MPs and senators will base their decision on two factors — the candidate’s qualifications and whether or not the candidate’s party has the support of the lower House.

Aside from these two factors, the Senate will also take into consideration the candidate’s ethical and moral standards, along with his or her vision on how to implement the government’s core policies, said Mr Direkrit.

With regards to Mr Srettha’s vow to rewrite the constitution immediately after the government takes office, the senator said he will have to explain why the charter needs to be rewritten in such a rush, and what benefits the amendment would bring the public.

He encouraged Mr Srettha to attend Tuesday’s meeting, calling it a good opportunity for him to convince MPs and senators that he is suited to be the next prime minister.

Meanwhile, Ms Paetongtarn said Pheu Thai still hopes to see Mr Srettha win the forthcoming vote.