THAILAND: Pheu Thai Denies Having Backup Plan If MFP Leader's PM Bid Fails To Win Senate Backing

Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew dismissed press reports suggesting that the party intended to lead the governing coalition instead of the Move Forward Party, if the latter party fails to muster enough support in the Senate. Chonlanan said that "there is only one plan, which is to support the leading party and have [MFP leader] Pita as the Prime Minister."

• This comes as Thai PBS reported that Move Forward and Pheu Thai have reached a compromise over the House Speaker position. A Pheu Thai source told PBS that the party will concede the position to the MFP, while "if Pita fails to receive enough votes in a joint sitting of the House and Senate, the Pheu Thai party will take the lead in forming a government."
• The Secretary General of the House of Representatives yesterday issued a letter to new lawmakers, inviting them to the first meeting of the lower house at 9:30am on July 4 to take oath and choose the House Speaker. The meeting will take place after the official opening of parliament on July 3.