Thai House picks compromise speaker as progressives seek to form govt
Jul 05, 2023
Bangkok [Thailand], July 5: The Thai parliament appointed a compromise candidate to the powerful role of House speaker on Tuesday, potentially complicating progressive party leader Pita Limjaroenrat's efforts to form a government. King Maha Vajiralongkorn officially opened the Thai parliament on Monday, more than a month after Pita's pro-democracy Move Forward Party (MFP) unexpectedly won the most seats at the May 14 election. MFP has cobbled together an eight-party coalition that also includes election runners-up Pheu Thai, but it still remains well short of the 376 seats needed across both houses of parliament for Pita to be appointed prime minister in a vote due in mid-July.