Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National

Thaksin 'confused' by Chuvit's secret-coalition claim

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, centre left, and Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew shake hands at a press conference on May 22. (File photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he was left flabbergasted by the allegation of a "secret deal" for the Pheu Thai Party to form a coalition government with former parties in the government bloc.

Thaksin strongly denied the Pheu Thai move to a new coalition on Twitter on Sunday, after whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit posted on social media earlier that day.

Mr Chuvit said a "secret deal" had been reached by Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, Palang Pracharath, Democrat and Chartthaipattana parties to form a coalition.

The deal was struck while Pheu Thai was still in the process of thrashing out differences with Move Forward and six other smaller parties in a planned coalition government. Pheu Thai's U-turn would leave Move Forward on the opposition benches, Mr Chuvit said in his social media post.

According to Mr Chuvit, this Pheu Thai-led coalition would be endorsed by over 376 votes at a joint sitting of parliament, with the support of senators, as required by the law.

The "secret deal" included conditions for Thaksin's return home from Dubai, where he lives in political exile, according to Mr Chuvit.

The success of the negotiations had been reported to Thaksin, who was waiting to hear the result in Singapore, according to Mr Chuvit, who said he would rather keep his source of information secret.

He quoted the source as saying that Move Forward was too much of a risk factor and its leader Pita Limjaroenrat's aspirations for the job of prime minister would be shattered.

On his Twitter post, Thaksin said: "I am flabbergasted by Mr Chuvit's mentioning of a secret deal. The allegation was made despite the fact that Paetongtarn 'Ung Ing' Shinawatra, Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate, has reiterated support for Mr Pita, the Move Forward Party, to be prime minister.

"I myself have never met with representatives of any party and never received a phone call. I'm totally confused."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.