The Pheu Thai Party announced on Monday that it eject the military-backed Palang Pracharat Party from its future government.
The move comes after the leader of Palang Pracharat Prawit Wongsuwon, a former army chief with powerful ties to the royal family, refused to take part in the vote to confirm the new prime minister Paetongtarn ShinawatraAs a result, Pheu Thai will lose 40 Palang Pracharat MPs, but its leaders expect to retain their majority in parliament.
Politics is a personal matter in Thailand: Prawit took part in the coup against Paetongtarn’s father in 2006. Thaksin Shinawatraand the coup against her aunt in 2014 Yingluck ShinawatraThe billionaire Shinawatra clan and his Pheu Thai party formed a Alliance of Necessity last year to prevent the emerging reformist Move Forward party from taking power, despite it winning the most votes in the 2023 election. Pheu Thai took the helm last August, and Thaksin returned from exile and was pardoned by King Vajiralongkorn.
It is not a complete split: Pheu Thai will continue to work with the United Thai Nation party, which is also closely linked to the military and monarchy. Paetongtarn has consistently opposed the repeal of laws criticising the king (but There Is a lot To criticize).
Pheu Thai needs middle-class Thai voters. The link between the military and the monarchy is deeply rooted in Thailand, and voters have generally tolerated Military intervention in the name of national security. There are no signs of an impending coup – but the Shinawatras have no chance of bringing about a peaceful transfer of power.
