BANGKOK, Sept 2 — Two rival political camps in Thailand are vying to form the next government following the dismissal by the Constitutional Court of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister, with no early sign of which side has the upper hand.
What happened since the ruling?
Paetongtarn’s August 29 removal for an ethics violation triggered an instant flurry of activity, with her ruling coalition trying to show a united front, while Bhumjaithai — a renegade party that had quit her alliance in June — mounted a bid to form its own government.
Bhumjaithai’s ambitious leader Anutin Charnvirakul, 58, a former deputy premier, embarked on a whistle-stop lobbying spree across Bangkok to try to secure votes, tapping factions of coalition members and most notably the opposition People’s Party, the largest force in parliament.
