Thailand: Bhumjaithai Party Sets Direction, PM Announces Parliament Opening & Government Formation Timeline
Thailand’s New Government Takes Shape, Parliament to Convene Mid-March
Buriram, Thailand – – A seminar hosted by the Bhumjaithai Party in Buriram province has outlined the next steps in forming Thailand’s new government, with a parliamentary session slated for mid-March. The event, themed “Talk and Deliver Plus,” brought together key party leaders including Secretary-General Chai Chanak Chidchob, and prominent figures Surasak Puangketu, Supajee Suthamphan, and Ekniti Nitithanprapas to discuss and coordinate the party’s future work.
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul informed party MPs that a royal ceremony to open parliament is scheduled for . Following this, the process will proceed according to established procedures, beginning with the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two Deputy Speakers. Once royal endorsement is granted, the parliament will convene again to select a Prime Minister, who will then await royal approval to form a cabinet.
“There are still more steps before a government is fully established,” Anutin reportedly said, emphasizing the procedural nature of the upcoming weeks.
The timeline suggests a vote for Prime Minister between late March and early April, with a new cabinet expected to be completed in April, and the government delivering its policy statement to parliament in May, according to information released during the seminar and confirmed by web search results.
Regarding reports of the government formation being “99.99% complete,” as stated by Bhumjaithai Party Secretary-General Chai Chanak Chidchob, Anutin urged patience, stating that matters would unfold according to the established process. He indicated that discussions regarding cabinet positions would commence after the Prime Minister is appointed.
The Bhumjaithai Party has secured support from the Pheu Thai Party to lead the coalition government, a deal announced on . This agreement currently gives the coalition a majority of 272 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives, based on unofficial election results. Anutin expressed confidence that both parties were prepared to move past previous differences and work together for the benefit of the country.
When questioned about the possibility of Pai Lik, a Member of Parliament from Kamphaeng Phet and Secretary-General of the Kla Tham Party, potentially serving as a member of the opposition, Anutin emphasized the importance of political flexibility. “Political parties must be prepared for all roles,” he stated. “Bhumjaithai has also been in both government and opposition. What is most important is that we are representatives of the people and can serve the country regardless of our position.” He cited the example of opposition MPs who have consistently contributed to the nation’s progress despite never holding government positions.
The formation of the new government follows the certification of election results for over 95% of all seats by the Election Commission, a key constitutional requirement for convening parliament. As of , the Election Commission had approved the election results for 100 party-list MPs, in addition to the 396 constituency MPs previously certified. Three additional constituency MPs – Surapol Viratyosin, Khamphi Chuenban, and Akkara Promphao – were also endorsed. One constituency seat, Suphan Buri Constituency 2, remains uncertified.
The coming weeks will be crucial as Thailand transitions to a new administration under the leadership of Bhumjaithai, with the country anticipating the delivery of the new government’s policy statement in May.