The Pheu Thai Party has agreed to let the Move Forward Party (MFP) take the House speaker seat, on condition that it gets to name two deputy House speakers.
Pheu Thai deputy leader, Phumtham Wechayachai, said that as the runner-up in the election, the party has agreed to let the MFP, as the party which won the most votes, assume the House speaker position, in a bid to end the stalemate between the parties.
The parties had locked horns over the position, with Pheu Thai claiming that the since the MFP gets to pick who will lead the government’s executive branch, Pheu Thai should be allowed the House speaker post, which is the head of the government’s legislative branch.
Mr Phumtham said if the MFP is to get both the prime minister and House speaker seats, then Pheu Thai should get the two deputy House speaker posts.
He said further discussions over the allocation of key posts should be put on hold until the Election Commission (EC) finishes endorsing the election of MPs.
At least 95% of the 500 MPs-elect must be endorsed by the EC before the House of Representatives can convene its first meeting to elect the House speaker. The parliament is expected to meet and elect the next prime minister before Aug 3.
Separately, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said the leaders of the eight parties which have been invited to join the MFP-led coalition will meet on Thursday this week instead of Tuesday as usual, to allow the EC to finish endorsing the MPs-elect.
The EC has indicated it is likely to finish endorsing the MPs-elect on Wednesday.
The Pheu Thai leader added the meeting should produce something more substantial about the government’s formation.