Anutin pushes back on Pheu Thai claims

PM says coalition deal remains intact

- POST REPORTERS

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has defended his exit as interior minister under the previous Pheu Thai Party-led government, stating that Pheu Thai sought to regain the ministry to increase its advantage ahead of an anticipated early election.

In parliament on the second day of the policy debate yesterday, Mr Anutin responded to accusations from opposition MPs that his government was formed under questionable circumstances and in violation of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) reached between the now-ruling Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party and the main opposition People's Party (PP).

The MOA was signed in exchange for PP’s support for Mr Anutin to be the prime minister. BJT, in turn, would be in power for four months before calling for a dissolution of the House. The PP also set a condition that BJT must not try to expand the coalition.