Bangkok – No fewer than seven Thai political parties on Wednesday announced a coalition against the junta amid widespread electoral confusion three days after the country held its first poll since a 2014 coup.
Pheu Thai, which won the majority of constituency lawmakers at 137, and the progressive Future Forward Party, which scooped up 30 seats, were among the parties to form the new coalition.
“Today, seven parties have agreed to join force to fight against the prolonged power of the (junta),” Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate Sudarat Keyuraphan said.
“I insist that the prime minister should come from the party that won the most seats,” added Future Forward leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, throwing his support behind Sudarat.
The coalition holds an estimated 255 seats, enough for a majority in the 500-seat lower house.
But it lacks enough seats in parliament to select a prime minister, with less than half of the 750-member chamber.
All 250 senators were hand-picked by the junta which aims to hold onto the premiership via its leader Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The military-backed Palang Pracharat Party won 97 constituencies, but got the most votes nationwide at 7.6 million.
The coalition announcement came amid confusion about the results of the Sunday election, as there is no law determining which parties can or should form government after an election.
The Election Commission has said it would not announce the official results until early May.
Thais went to the ballot for the first time after five years under repressive military rule and repeated election delays.