By Anadolu staff
ISTANBUL (AA) - The Pheu Thai Party announced on Friday that it will support caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s conservative Bhumjaithai Party in forming a new government, according to local media reports.
The announcement was made by Pheu Thai Secretary-General Prasert Jantararuangtong alongside Anutin following a meeting at Bhumjaithai’s headquarters, local media The Nation reported.
The talks were attended by senior figures from both sides, including Yossanan Wongsa-sawat, Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate.
Prasert said that their presence today was to congratulate the Bhumjaithai Party on its success and to officially announce their support. He added that a detailed discussion will be held later.
On his part, Anutin said both sides agreed to leave the past misunderstandings behind, focusing on moving forward with the public interest as their primary goal.
Bhumjaithai secured 193 seats in Sunday’s election, making it the largest party in the 500-seat lower house, but still short of the 251 seats required to form a government independently.
The People’s Party won 118 seats, while Pheu Thai, backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, secured 74 seats. The Democrat Party won 22 seats.
Thailand’s previous general election was held in 2023, when the Move Forward Party emerged as the largest party with 151 seats, followed by Pheu Thai with 141 and Bhumjaithai with 71.
Despite repeated elections and shifting alliances, the country has seen three different governments in just three years.