The Move Forward Party postponed indefinitely its planned meeting on Wednesday with the Pheu Thai Party after its coalition ally again demanded the position of House speaker.
Thursday's planned meeting of all eight coalition parties was also postponed.
MFP deputy spokeswoman Pakamon Noon-anan informed reporters of the indefinite delay on Tuesday night. The two major players in the eight-party coalition had earlier planned to reach agreement on the House speaker’s seat at a meeting on Wednesday.
However, on Tuesday Pheu Thai again insisted it must have the House speaker’s post in accordance with its proposal to have 14 ministerial positions plus the speaker's post, and MFP would have 14 ministerial positions and the prime minister.
MFP won the most House seats, 151, at the May 14 general election, and Pheu Thai came second with 141.
With Pheu Thai standing firm on having the House speaker’s seat, MFP has named Phitsanulok MP Padipat Suntiphada as its candidate for the job.
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday his party insisted on having the speaker’s seat and it had informed MFP of this from the very beginning. MFP had not made any direct response to Pheu Thai on the matter, he said.
Dr Cholnan confirmed that Pheu Thai still intended to be part of the next government with its seven allies and MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister.
Thai Sang Thai Party leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, one of the coalition allies, said the eight- party meeting planned for Thursday was also postponed pending further negotations on the issue of the speaker between MFP and Pheu Thai. She hoped MFP and Pheu Thai would quickly reach an agreement so that their coalition government could be formed.
Mr Padipat, MFP's candidate for speaker, said on Wednesday that he believed the matter could still be resolved before the official opening of the House of Representatives on July 3. He said MFP and Pheu Thai would not let just one issue break their coalition partnership.
Mr Padipat reiterated MFP’s intention to take both the prime minister and speaker's positions, because the party won the most House seats.
