No party won a majority in the 500-member House of Representatives, the first legislature elected since the May 2014 coup (see note 1). The Pheu Thai Party (led by former Prime Minister Shinawatra Thaksin, who was ousted in the 2014 coup, see note 2) came first, followed by the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party (which supports the coup leader and interim Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha), and the Future Forward Party, an anti-junta party led by Mr. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (see note 3).

Following the 2019 elections, the Pheu Thai Party, which endorsed Ms. Sudarat Keyuraphan as its premiership candidate, and the Future Forward Party, which pledged to change the 2017 Constitution drafted under the military regime, formed a seven-party alliance. Although the alliance initially claimed to have a majority in the House, it ultimately held 245 seats (see note 4). Meanwhile, the Palang Pracharath Party forged a 19-party alliance, including the third and fourth largest parties in the new legislature: the Democrat Party (led by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva) and the Bhumjaithai Party, led by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul.

On 24 May, the newly elected House of Representatives held its first session along with the new Senate (see note 5). Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai (Democrat Party) was elected as the Speaker, defeating a candidate endorsed by the Pheu Thai Party. The House of Representatives suspended the membership of Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

In accordance with the transitional provisions in the 2017 Constitution, the new Prime Minister is elected jointly by the House of Representatives and the Senate for the first five years after the date of installation of the first National Assembly. On 6 June, the joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate elected General Prayuth Chan-ocha as Prime Minister with 500 votes to 244 for Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. On 11 June, King Maha Vajiralongkorn formally endorsed Mr. Prayuth Chan-ocha as a Prime Minister.

Note 1:
In May 2014, Army General Prayuth Chan-ocha announced that the military had taken control of the Government and dissolved parliament. It established the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Under the NCPO’s roadmap, general elections were due to be held within one year, i.e., by May 2015. However, they have been successively postponed due in part to delay in adopting the new Constitution and election-related laws. On 23 January 2019, the Election Commission set elections to the House of Representatives for 23 March. During the transitional period, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), appointed by the former King in July 2014, assumed the legislative power. The term of the NLA expired one day before the convening of the new National Assembly on 24 May 2019.

Note 2:
Mr. Thaksin, who lives in self-imposed exile, has been sentenced to two years in prison in a separate corruption conviction from 2008. On 7 March 2019, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart party, another party supporting the former Prime Minister, after it had nominated the King’s sister as its premiership candidate. On 23 April, the Supreme Court sentenced Mr. Thaksin in absentia to three years in prison for conflict of interest.

Note 3:
Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been charged with sedition for allegedly aiding anti-junta protesters in 2015, and for criticizing the junta on Facebook in 2018. On 23 April 2019, the Election Commission accused him of breaching the election law, for holding shares in a media company after registering his candidacy for the 2019 elections, which he denied. On 23 May, one day before the convening of the newly elected House of Representatives, the Constitutional Court suspended him from his parliamentary seat until it makes a final ruling on his ineligibility. If found guilty, he would be banned from running for election for one year. He could also face criminal charges for contesting the election knowing he was ineligible; a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a ban from politics for 20 years.

Note 4:
Out of 500 House seats, 150 are filled under the proportional representation system. Shortly after the election, the alliance announced that it had secured 255 seats. The Election Commission subsequently announced one seat would be allocated to every 30,000 votes instead of 71,000 votes; the threshold that it previously announced. The alliance criticized the new method which favours small parties, many of which are reportedly pro-military. The Election Commission stated the previous quota turned out to be untenable because it would have resulted in too few party-list seats. On 8 May, the Constitutional Court granted the Election Commission the authority to distribute seats under the new formula.

Note 5:
Section 272 stipulates of the 2017 Constitution stipulates “In the period of five years from the date of installation of the first National Assembly under this Constitution” a premiership candidate requires an approval of more than one-half of the total number of members in both Houses.
The statutory number of members of the Senate (which serves a five-year term) under the 2017 Constitution is 200. However, in accordance with Section 269 of the Constitution, the initial Senate comprises 250 members: 244 senators selected by the NCPO and 6 ex-officio members representing the military. The current Senate includes over 100 people with ranks in the military or police and 15 former ministers in Mr. Prayuth’s previous cabinet.
For the first five years, the Senate is empowered to jointly deliberate with the House of Representatives on any bills deemed to be related to national reform. It also has the power to effectively reject any bill on amnesty at joint meetings of the two Houses. Support from two-thirds of both Houses (or at least 500 parliamentarians) is required to pass an amnesty bill.