Some Pheu Thai Party MPs have proposed their party should serve in the opposition and not support a Democrat Party MP as House speaker or it could lose in the political game, according to a party source. The role of House speaker, who is the ex-officio president of the parliament, appears to be dominating talks related to the formation of a coalition government with the Democrats reportedly being offered the post by both the Pheu Thai and the Palang Pracharath parties (PPRP). Democrat veteran and list-MP Banyat Bantadtan is being touted for the House speaker post. The Pheu Thai source said some party MPs are concerned this approach may not bode well for Pheu Thai which would have a lot to explain to its supporters if it agreed to join the Democrats, their political arch-rivals, in voting for a Democrat MP to be House speaker. Combine that with 250 senators and Pheu Thai [and its allies] do not stand a chance when it comes to selecting the prime minister.

Source: Bangkok Post May 18, 2019 22:52 UTC