By DPA,
Bangkok : The prospect of a new Thai coalition government under the former opposition Democrat party took a step closer to realisation when its chief rival acknowledged it had failed to set up a coalition.
Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, a leader of the Puea Thai Party, admitted that it was preparing to become the opposition.
The Democrat party announced Saturday night that it had mustered enough support from the “Friends of Newin” breakaway faction of the Puea Thai and its former allies to form a new coalition government.
The new alliance provides a Demrocat-led government 260 seats in the 447-seat lower house of parliament, with the Democrats holding 165 seats.
The Puea Thai party, a reincarnation of the now defunct People Power Party, holds 181 seats and its ally the Pracharaj party, 5 seats.
If the new political alliance does not fall apart between now and the reconvening of parliament some time this week, Democrat leader Aphisit Vejjajiva is likely to become Thailand’s next prime minister.