Conflict or coup possible, warns academic

Coalition ‘must secure 66+ senators’

Conflict and another coup could occur if the Move Forward Party (MFP) fails to form a coalition government, an academic has warned.

The military has, however, given assurances that it will do its best to maintain order and ruled out the possibility of another coup.

Writing on Facebook on Saturday, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, programme director for politics and development strategy at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), presented possible scenarios for what would happen if the MFP is able to form a government and what would happen if the party fails to do so.

The MFP-led coalition, which now has a combined 313 MPs, will form the new government if it can secure the support of at least 66 senators, he said.

He said the MFP has the…