PM Anutin Defends MOA Deal, Blames Pheu Thai for Breach
Prime Minister Anutin defended the Bhumjaithai-Pheu Thai alliance on its first anniversary, blaming Pheu Thai for pressuring the government beyond their agreement and threatening no-confidence motions to force Parliament dissolution.
On September 6, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, speaking as Bhumjaithai party leader, was interviewed on the first anniversary of the memorandum of agreement between Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai. When asked if a year had passed, the PM laughed and said, "It's already been a year? I never even thought about it. Time flies." When Pheu Thai described the deal as a party mistake, Anutin disagreed, asking how it could be an error when both parties worked together to find solutions for the country and supported each other. He said Pheu Thai wanted constitutional amendments, which Bhumjaithai facilitated, but the party added further conditions later and tried to pressure the minority government beyond the MOA's five core points. Anutin noted that when Pheu Thai asked to dissolve Parliament on different dates—first January 31, then January 15, then December 31, 2024—Bhumjaithai agreed each time. When additional demands came about amending the constitution and cutting Senate powers, Bhumjaithai's role was limited, but Pheu Thai threatened a no-confidence motion if the government did not comply. "A recording should be made public to show clearly that Natthaphong, the Pheu Thai leader, was the one who told me, the Prime Minister, to dissolve Parliament," Anutin said, adding that journalists often forget this detail and incorrectly blame him for mistakes. He stressed that Pheu Thai broke the agreement and pressured him to dissolve Parliament, leaving no room for error on his part. When asked about Priset Wattracin's statement that signing the MOA was a mistake that cost Pheu Thai the election, Anutin questioned whether Priset had even participated in the talks. "I don't know if he said that, but Priset wasn't a signatory and wasn't involved in the negotiations with Pheu Thai. I didn't see him in the picture at all, so I can't answer for him because he had nothing to do with it then. If he wants to get involved now, that's a different matter. Since he wasn't involved in 2024, what is he claiming now?"
