Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP), has shed light on the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would lay the foundation for a coalition government. In his statement, Pita emphasized that reaching an agreement among the coalition parties was the bare minimum required to establish a joint mandate.
Highlighting the scope of the MFP’s policies, Pita stated that his party had more than 300 initiatives, ranging from the 23 points of shared mandates to several distinct agendas. These policies would be implemented through administrative mechanisms, with Pita taking on the responsibility of managing them as Thailand’s potential 30th Prime Minister. Ministers from the MFP would collaborate across various ministries to ensure the effective execution of these policies, even in cases where direct control may not be possible. They would work closely with the coalition government to bring about necessary changes.
Pita emphasized the legislative power of the MFP, with 152 representatives in the legislature, enabling them to bring forward laws for discussion and utilize legislative mechanisms to address critical issues such as clean water and gender-related matters.
He further reiterated the government’s commitment to engaging with the public and inviting coalition partners to participate in the implementation of shared policies. Key appointments, including the speaker of the house and cabinet members, would be chosen with careful consideration.
Pita pointed out that the current state of economic instability was intertwined with political uncertainty and the challenges faced by election winners in forming a government, stemming from the 2017 Constitution.
Beyond these points, Pita highlighted discussions between the transition team and the Thai Chamber of Commerce. The talks encompassed several key issues, including enhancing Thailand’s competitiveness, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), aligning the workforce with national requirements, and increasing the minimum wage in line with inflation or GDP growth.
To alleviate the burden of rising costs and low wages, Pita expressed the MFP’s commitment to raising the minimum wage to 450 baht per day. However, he acknowledged the concerns of employers and business owners, particularly regarding social security contributions. As a potential solution, Pita suggested the possibility of making a double increase in the minimum wage tax-deductible over a two-year period or implementing tax cuts for SMEs. These measures aimed to strike a balance between addressing workers’ needs and considering the interests of businesses.
