Pheu Thai looms large as potential coalition leader

Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew, centre, touches Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, sole prime ministerial candidate, left, as Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong, right, and other party members greet the MFP leader at the parliament before the House of Representatives and the Senate started their joint sitting for the prime ministerial vote on Thursday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

The Pheu Thai Party has a good chance to become the leader of a new coalition if the Move Forward Party (MFP) and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, can't win the parliamentary selection of the new prime minister, a political science academic said on Friday.

As the party with the second-highest number of House seats, Pheu Thai will be able to justify a move to take over from the MFP and form a new coalition, possibly together with some other major parties outside the MFP-led alliance, Olarn Thinbangtieo from Burapha University, told the Bangkok Post.