BANGKOK: Thailand’s election commission has certified nearly 400 parliamentary seats won in the February general election, a poll body source and local media said on Wednesday (Feb 25), moving a step closer to the formation of a new government.
- 396 constituency seats in the 500-member Lower House have been certified, according to local news outlets and the source, who declined to be identified.
- The commission has yet to formally announce the certification.
- A new Parliament must convene within 15 days of the certification of at least 95 per cent of the seats, or 475 seats, after which the house will elect a prime minister to form a government.
- Preliminary results on election night showed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party winning most seats, followed by People’s Party and the Pheu Thai party.
- 104 seats, 100 of those party-list, have yet to be certified. The commission source told Reuters the party-list seats were expected to be certified next week.
- Bhumjaithai has said it would be joined by third-place Pheu Thai to form a coalition government alongside several smaller parties, an alliance that would hold an estimated 286 seats.
- There have been some complaints over alleged electoral irregularities that could lead to legal cases against the poll body. - Reuters
