Thailand’s election commission has certified the majority of parliamentary seats won in last month’s general election, two sources said on Wednesday, clearing the way for a new house to convene and a new government to take office.
The commission has certified all 100 party-list seats and a further three constituency seats, the sources told Reuters, meaning all but one of the 500 parliamentary seats have been confirmed.
The commission was due to hold a press conference later on Wednesday.
Under the rules, the new parliament must meet within 15 days of certification. It will elect a speaker and deputy speaker and will then choose a prime minister, who will move to form a government.
The certified results show prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party winning the most seats, followed by the People’s Party and the Pheu Thai Party.
Bhumjaithai has said it plans to form a coalition with third-place Pheu Thai and several smaller parties, an alliance that will hold an estimated 292 seats.
The new government is expected to begin working in April, a Bhumjaithai party official told Reuters.
The poll body said 37.8 million people voted in the 8 February election, representing 71.42 per cent of eligible voters.
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