Election winner in Thailand announces coalition of 8 parties Experts sound alarm: limit of 1.5 degrees will soon be exceeded

It is now considered more likely that the 42-year-old Harvard graduate could become the next prime minister in the kingdom. Together, the parties would have 313 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, Thai broadcaster PBS World reported on Thursday.

However, the head of government in Thailand is elected by the 500 newly elected MPs, along with 250 unelected army-appointed senators. After their coup in 2014, the generals who have been in power so far have changed the constitution in their favour. So a candidate needs 376 votes to become prime minister. It is considered doubtful whether senators will support the opposition – and if so, how much. The vote is expected in late July or early August.

The main sticking point is the Move Forward party’s plan to amend the controversial Lèse Majesté law: the popular holiday destination punishes lèse majeste more harshly than almost any other country in the world. The law provides for long prison sentences and time and time again very young Thais are arrested. This has long been protested by the public – but many conservative politicians want to abide by the law.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed by all coalition parties on Monday, Pita announced to journalists. The date is significant: exactly nine years ago, on May 22, 2014, the army seized power. (sda/dpa)