BANGKOK, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Bhumjaithai Party, a key vote getter in Thailand's March 24 election, said on Saturday that it had decided to align with the pro-government Palang Pracharath Party, increasing chances for the latter to form a stable government.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that his party would join the Palang Pracharath Party despite of details that need to be negotiated.
Asked about their decision on the premiership, a Bhumjaithai Party's spokesman gave no comments.
The Bhumjaithai Party won 51 MP seats in the election.
Thailand's new constitution requires the 250-seat Senate, appointed entirely by the current military government, to vote along with the 500-seat elected House of Representatives to choose the prime minister.
While the pro-government Palang Pracharath Party has already had enough votes (137 MP votes and 250 senators' votes) to ensure its candidate, Prayut Chan-o-cha, to be the new prime minister, it still needs another 114 votes in the lower house to form a stable government.
Meanwhile, the opposition alliance has already had 245 votes and needs only six more to do so.
Anutin, a former construction tycoon, earlier made it clear that his party would not be part of a minority government, and that a coalition government must accept its main policy of cannabis commercialization.
Bhumjaithai was eyeing for the transport, public health, and tourism and sports ministries, reports said.
