Move Forward will allow Pheu Thai to lead formation of new government

Cholnan said at Friday’s press conference that the eight-party coalition has 312 votes among them but that was not enough to gain majority support from Parliament due to concerns by many parliamentarians over Article 112 of the Penal Code, also known as the lese majeste law.

“Pheu Thai needs to seek more support from parliamentarians to get more than 375 votes [a simple majority in Parliament],” he said.

“Pheu Thai will request votes from senators and other political parties so that we can finally set up a new government,” he added.

Political parties outside of the eight-party coalition and several senators earlier announced that they would not vote for any candidate from a party that seeks to abolish or amend the lese majeste law. Some senators argued that legislative changes proposed by Move Forward would undermine the monarchy…