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Thai Ruling Coalition Nearer Losing Majority After Pullout

Thai Ruling Coalition Closer to Losing Majority After Pullout

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand’s ruling coalition is closer to losing its razor-thin majority after a party with one parliamentary seat pulled out of the alliance.

The Prachatham Thai Party left to become an independent opposition after a disagreement flared up, its leader Pichate Satirachaval said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

The government formed after a disputed general election in March now has 252 seats in the 500-strong elected lower house. Another small party with one seat pulled out about a month ago.

The election ushered in a civilian administration led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, ending five years under a junta that was also headed by former army chief Prayuth.

The pro-military ruling coalition comprises more than a dozen parties, and there are doubts about whether it will last the full four-year term or easily pass key legislation like the budget.

Separately Wednesday, the Constitutional Court rejected a complaint against the government over the incomplete oath of office taken by Prayuth and his Cabinet.

The court said the July 16 swearing-in ceremony that took place in front of King Maha Vajiralongkorn lies beyond its jurisdiction.

Parliament is due to debate the incomplete swearing-in next week. Some opponents had argued the administration could be illegitimate for failing to utter part of the oath.

Prayuth and the Cabinet on Aug. 27 received a letter from Vajiralongkorn containing the monarch’s speech from the July ceremony. That speech included a wish for the administration to have “the strength to do good.”

The court listed out these events in its rejection of the complaint.

To contact the reporter on this story: Siraphob Thanthong-Knight in Bangkok at rthanthongkn@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sunil Jagtiani at sjagtiani@bloomberg.net, Jeanette Rodrigues

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