Thailand’s top opposition parties agree to link up after vote

BLOOMBERG

Thailand’s two biggest pro-democracy parties agreed to join in a coalition that would give them a clear majority in the lower house, moving to quickly maintain momentum after a stronger-than-forecast showing in the elections.
The liberal Move Forward party claimed a mandate to lead after topping the polls, with party chief Pita Limjaroenrat taking to Twitter to say he would be a prime minister for all. He told reporters that he’s extended invitations to five parties to form the next government. With Move Forward leading in total seats and the popular vote, he won backing from the Pheu Thai party that finished second.
“Today I’m ready to be Thailand’s 30th prime minister,” the Harvard-educated Pita, 42, wrote. “We have the same dreams and hopes and we believe that our beloved Thailand can be better.”
While the pro-democracy groups were expected to do well, the two parties’ performance was a blow to the military-backed government of PM Prayuth Chan-Ocha, which took power in a 2014 coup. But that outcome is no guarantee of a quick path to power: Under Thailand’s constitution, the 250-member military-backed Senate is still a powerful bloc with influence in picking next prime minister.