BANGKOK, THAILAND – The ruling Bhumjaithai Party finalized a new coalition after the 8 February election, excluding Kla Tham while Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul remained under heavy pressure over doubts about the validity of the 2026 general poll.
Coalition fixed without Kla Tham
Party leaders from Bhumjaithai confirmed on Saturday that coalition talks had been completed and that the Kla Tham Party would not join the incoming government. After weeks of uncertainty since the 8 February vote, party sources said the coalition numbers were now set, effectively ending all negotiations with Kla Tham.
300-seat majority and opposition line-up
Under the current plan, the governing bloc would control more than 300 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, including 193 MPs from Bhumjaithai, 74 from Pheu Thai and 33 from smaller parties, pending confirmation by the Election Commission. The opposition would hold 200 seats, led by the People’s Party with 118 MPs, alongside 58 for Kla Tham, 22 for the Democrat Party and two for United Thai Nation.
Stability concerns and cabinet arithmetic
Senior figures in Bhumjaithai believed a 300-seat majority could secure political stability and therefore opted not to further expand the coalition. Internal sources added that bringing in more partners would complicate the allocation of ministries, as five cabinet posts had already been reserved for ministers from outside parliament and Bhumjaithai sought to retain control over key portfolios.
Five heavyweight outsiders lined up
Among the external figures designated for the cabinet is Sihasak Phuangketkeow, expected to serve as deputy prime minister and foreign minister, alongside Suphajee Suthumpun, who is set to become deputy premier and commerce minister. They are joined by Ekniti Nitithanprapas as finance minister and deputy premier, Bowornsak Uwanno handling legal affairs with deputy premier rank, and Predee Daochai as energy minister, meaning the basic structure of the cabinet was in place before its official announcement.
Pheu Thai keeps core ministries
Within the new alliance, Pheu Thai is expected to retain five ministries, including agriculture and cooperatives, higher education, science, research and innovation, and the education ministry. Pheu Thai is also set to control the labour ministry and the ministry of social development and human security, giving it significant administrative weight inside the coalition.
Thamanat to lose agriculture portfolio
The agriculture ministry, currently led by Captain Thamanat Prompow as deputy premier and interim agriculture minister, is due to go to Pheu Thai in the new cabinet. In Kla Tham circles, exclusion from government was seen as a serious breach of political trust, even though the party formally accepted its role in opposition.
Old controversies shadow Kla Tham
According to reports on Saturday, the new government intended to avoid cooperation with Kla Tham and Thamanat, citing his links to grey capital groups and his role in the 2021 parliamentary attempt to unseat then-prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha. At that time, both Thamanat and senior Kla Tham politician and education minister Narumon Pinyosinwat had been dismissed from the cabinet by General Prayut.
Anutin’s strategic reset
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul continued to head a caretaker administration in which Kla Tham still held positions, even as the new coalition framework clearly shifted the party into the opposition. For Anutin, this realignment marked a significant change of coalition strategy, allowing him to distance himself from past conflicts and controversial figures.
Warnings over possible election annulment
In the previous week, Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser and de facto leader of Kla Tham, had publicly questioned the credibility of the election and underlined the party’s readiness for opposition. He pointed in particular to the barcode on the pink party-list ballots, saying he had consulted experts who had unanimously viewed the issue as worrying and had warned about potential consequences of an election annulment.
Constitutional focus on ballot barcodes
Political observers saw a possibility that growing concerns over the vote could reach the Constitutional Court, especially over the barcode, which many specialists regarded as a clear violation of Article 85 of the 2017 constitution requiring direct and secret elections. Scenarios under discussion ranged from a full rerun of the election to repeat voting for already confirmed candidates, with procedures reportedly initiated but not yet filed with the court.
Uncertainty keeps pressure on Anutin
From a purely parliamentary arithmetic perspective, the coalition led by Anutin—with 193 Bhumjaithai seats, 74 from Pheu Thai, 33 from smaller parties, five external ministers and an opposition comprising 58 Kla Tham MPs and 118 from the People’s Party—appeared clearly capable of governing. However, until the Election Commission formally endorsed the 8 February result and constitutional questions over the voting process were resolved, Anutin had to contend both with political restructuring and with this uncertainty, as well as the indirect threat posed by his deputy premier Thamanat.
Sharp words from Thamanat
In a media encounter on Friday, Thamanat responded to speculation about his future in any cabinet, saying he had been nominated several times since 2019, fully vetted and ready to accept any investigation of his qualifications, adding that in a negative outcome those making the appointments should also be held accountable. He also condemned political practices in which a prime minister was chosen first and cabinet portfolios were arranged later, criticising what he called a
“cycle of deception.”
said Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to Kla Tham.
Between reassurance and threat
Responding to reports of alleged tensions with Anutin, Thamanat appeared relaxed and insisted there was no personal conflict, illustrating the relationship with the image,
“When people are in love, even boiled vegetables and their water taste sweet.”
said Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to Kla Tham. At the same time, he coupled this reassurance with a clear warning, stating:
“I have never started a quarrel with anyone, but if someone starts a quarrel with me, they will have nightmares,”
said Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to Kla Tham.
Mixed signals inside Kla Tham
While Thamanat took an assertive line, other senior Kla Tham officials struck a more cautious tone. Secretary-general Pai Leeke said he knew nothing about the conclusion of coalition talks because he had been abroad, and party spokesman Thanakrit Jitareerat similarly stated he had not been informed of any final outcome and that any change would first be communicated internally, even though Bhumjaithai secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob had earlier described talks with Kla Tham as provisional and reports now pointed to a completed deal and a clear shift of Kla Tham into opposition.