BANGKOK: Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, and a key figure in the Bhumjaithai Party, said in an interview on Tuesday (Feb 24) that he was unaware of reports claiming the party had sealed a deal to form a government commanding 300 MPs, adding that the matter should be directed to the party’s executive committee.
Asked whether having only one major party — Pheu Thai — alongside smaller parties would be sufficient, Phiphat said the question should be put to the party leader and the Bhumjaithai executive committee.
When asked whether there had been discussions about cabinet portfolios, Phiphat said the reports were “roughly” accurate, and that an agreement might already be in place — but he declined to elaborate, saying it would be overstepping his role to answer.
Pressed on whether the political deal to form a government had already been concluded, Phiphat said: “It would seem so. What the media has reported is very close.”
Asked whether Bhumjaithai was concerned that a clip related to government-formation negotiations might be exposed on social media, Phiphat said forming a government was something that could be disclosed in any case.
He said he did not believe the party leader was worried about such a clip, insisted he was not concerned, and said he did not know what clip was being referred to — adding that he believed there were no secrets within the Bhumjaithai Party. - The Nation/ANN
