Thai ruling party tightens grip on power with House speaker post
Sophon Zaram, a senior figure in the Bhumjaithai Party, receives 289 votes against 123 for the opposition
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[BANGKOK] Thailand’s ruling party has wasted little time in translating its surprise election win into institutional control, tightening its grip on the parliament and edging closer to forming a new government.
Newly elected lawmakers on Sunday (Mar 15) selected Sophon Zaram, a senior figure in Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party, as speaker of the 500-member House of Representatives.
He received 289 votes, against the 123 for the opposition People’s Party candidate.
The role is pivotal in Thailand’s parliamentary system, as the speaker sets legislative agendas and schedules key votes for the Lower House, including the upcoming session to formally select the prime minister.
In the Feb 8 election, Bhumjaithai won 192 seats to become the largest bloc in parliament.
This is a rare victory for a conservative party, in a country where rival pro-democracy groups have often won the vote, only to be removed from power through court rulings or military coups.
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The appointment of Sophon, who hails from the north-eastern province of Buriram, underscores the consolidation of power by Bhumjaithai through its influential network of local political dynasties, largely in north-eastern Thailand.
Much of the party’s strength is linked to the Chidchob family of rural Buriram.
Newin Chidchob, a former politician and now a prominent power broker, is widely viewed as an architect of the party’s strategy, though he holds no formal government post nor role in the party.
The speaker’s position also strengthens Bhumjaithai’s influence across both chambers of parliament.
Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja, a former governor of Buriram, presides over an Upper House selected through a complex peer-based system in 2024.
Though officially non-partisan, roughly two-thirds of senators are believed to have links to Newin or Anutin, aligning them with the ruling coalition.
Anutin has already finalised a 15-party coalition commanding roughly 290 seats, comfortably above the 251 needed for a simple majority.
The Cabinet posts are expected to be dominated by Bhumjaithai figures, with several portfolios allocated to key coalition partner Pheu Thac.
The Lower House on Sunday also selected Bhumajaithai’s Mallika Jirapunvanit as the first deputy House speaker, and named Lertsak Pattanachaikul from the Pheu Thai Party as second deputy.
Thailand’s parliament will hold a session on Mar 19 to vote on a new prime minister, House Speaker Sophon Zaram said on Monday, following February’s general election.
After which, the new Cabinet lineup is expected to be finalised and submitted to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for royal endorsement.
Anutin is seeking to be voted back to office by the new parliament, after his Bhumjaithai Party won a clear victory in the election. BLOOMBERG
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