Cracks widen in ruling coalition

Turbulent times: Prayut flanked by Deputy Prime Ministers Prawit Wongsuwan (left) and Somkid Jatusripitak in this file picture. — AFP

THE kingdom’s embattled prime minister will hold talks with party leaders in his ruling coalition as he seeks to control growing divisions that could lead to early elections later this year.

Prayut Chan-o-Cha heads a sprawling coalition facing criticism over his mismanagement of Covid-19, a pandemic economy still in the doldrums and simmering tensions over huge 2021 pro-democracy protests that have dominated the past 12 months.