PHEU Thai successfully gained the support of six more parties although it is still short of required number of seats to secure enough majority.
The entry of the six more political parties into the alliance lifted the total number of House seats to 212 seats to 228 seats.
The other parties agreeing to join the coalition are Prachachat, Pheu Thai Rumphalang, Chart Pattana Kla, Palang Sangkhom Mai, Seri Ruam Thai, and Thongthee Thai Party.
The eight-party coalition however is still short of 23 seats of the 251 required for a simple majority in the 500-seat House.
Moreover, the coalition needs at least 375 votes from the combined house and senate to elect a new prime minister.
The alliance with the six parties took place after Pheu Thai forged partnership with the conservative Bhumjaithai, the third-largest party in the country’s lower house that won 71 seats on May 14.
Pheu Thai, the party with the second highest of votes during the election, broke alliance with election winner Move Forward party earlier this month amid uncertainties over its party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as the next prime minister of Thailand.
In a recent update, a ninth political party pledged to support Pheu Thai in forming a new government.
A lawmaker from a rival party said his group will join the alliance, hence, increasing the coalition’s seats in the lower house to 238.
