Anutin Says No Deal Yet On Reported 300 - Seat Coalition

chiangraitimes.com · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said reports claiming a “300-seat” coalition has been secured are premature, and that no formal agreement has been reached. This matters because Thailand’s next government can’t move ahead in an official way until the Election Commission (EC) certifies the election results. Until then, parties are cautious about confirming partners, and Parliament can’t move cleanly to votes for House Speaker and prime minister. Key points Deal not final, Anutin says Waiting for EC certification Coalition talks must follow constitutional procedure BJT and Pheu Thai talks scheduled What Anutin actually said about the 300-seat coalition rumor Reports suggested the coalition math was already settled. Anutin publicly pushed back. He dismissed claims that a “300-seat” coalition is already secured, and he said there is no closed deal because there has been no formal deal-making yet. Anutin framed the situation in plain terms, stressing that the process has to follow the rules and the sequence set out in law. He also said the political situation remains unchanged until the EC formally endorses results. “No deal has even been opened, how could it be closed?” Anutin said, rejecting the idea that a final agreement already exists. He also said coalition talks must follow constitutional procedures. In practice, that means parties shouldn’t present an agreed coalition as final before the EC’s certification step. For background on the post-election environment and why early announcements can shift, see Chiang Rai Times coverage of Thailand EC certification after election. Anutin’s main points, as reported, can be summarized like this: He rejected the rumor that a “300-seat” coalition is already secured. He said no formal agreement exists at this stage. He said procedure comes first, and coalition steps must follow the constitution. He tied timing to certification, saying partners should be named after EC endorsement. Why he says talks cannot be finalized before EC certification Anutin said the situation won’t change until the EC officially certifies the results. He said Bhumjaithai would wait for formal endorsement before naming prospective coalition partners. He also pointed to timing under the 2017 constitution, noting this is Thailand’s third election held under that framework. In that context, he said certification has not been completed in under a month in past cases, even though the law allows up to 60 days, as he stated. That timeline matters because it sets expectations for when political negotiations can move from informal signals to formal commitments. Anutin’s position is that parties should not act as if the coalition is locked until the EC completes its endorsement step. Separate reporting has also echoed this “wait for official results” message in recent days. For an example, see Bernama’s report on coalition talks only after official results. What he said about fears of an annulled election Asked about fears that the election could be annulled, Anutin said that is within the EC’s remit. He also expressed confidence in the commission’s integrity. He did not go further than that, and he did not discuss outcomes. Why Election Commission certification is the gatekeeper step in Thailand’s government formation Thailand’s Parliament complex in Bangkok, a focal point for the next steps after EC certification In simple terms, “certification” is the moment the EC formally endorses election results so that winning candidates are officially recognized as MPs. Without that endorsement, the political system is still in a transition phase, and parties tend to avoid treating coalition lists as final. That’s why Anutin’s comments focus so heavily on EC certification. His core argument is about sequence: first, the EC endorses results; then, parties can confirm partners; then, Parliament moves to the next votes. He also referenced the practical timeline under recent elections, saying certification has not been completed in under a month in previous elections under the 2017 constitution, while the law allows up to 60 days. As of February 2026, the certification step has become the point many people watch most closely because it determines when Parliament can move forward in a stable way. It also limits how much weight the public should give to daily coalition rumors. In simple terms Votes get counted, but that’s not the last step. The EC certifies results, which makes MPs official. Parties wait to confirm partners, because the legal ground is firmer. Parliament proceeds to key votes, starting with Speaker and prime minister. Cabinet talks follow, after the political direction is clearer. What happens next, step by step, from certification to cabinet talks Thailand’s post-election process can feel like watching a train that hasn’t reached the station yet. People can see movement, but the doors don’t open until the train stops. Anutin said preliminary talks agreed that votes for House Speaker and prime minister should come first, before cabinet allocation discussions. Based on the sequencing described in the report, the next steps can be laid out like this: EC certifies results Parties confirm coalition partners (after certification, following Anutin’s stance) Votes for House Speaker and prime minister (Anutin said preliminary talks agreed these should come first) Cabinet allocation discussions During this period, Anutin said the caretaker government continues to function as usual. That point matters for daily administration because it signals continuity while political negotiations run their course. What is confirmed right now vs what is still unknown What’s confirmed Waiting for EC certification Caretaker government continues Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai meeting Tuesday to discuss cabinet allocations What’s not confirmed Final coalition partners Final cabinet lineup Whether any party is excluded (Anutin said no party, including Democrats, is being excluded before endorsement) Where coalition talks stand today, including the Pheu Thai meeting and other reported signals An illustration of formal coalition-style discussions in a government meeting room. Even with Anutin denying that a “300-seat” coalition is finalized, political contacts continue. The report says Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss cabinet allocations. The report also notes a separate detail circulating in political coverage: Pheu Thai may nominate Yodchanan Wongsawat as higher education, science, research and innovation minister, subject to his acceptance. This was presented as a report, not a confirmed appointment. Anutin also declined to comment on criticism from parties that said they were still waiting for invitations. He said it was best to let the situation settle. On the question of who might be left out, Anutin said no party is being excluded before the EC endorses the results. He included the Democrat Party in that statement, saying no party should be treated as ruled out at this stage. Another reported detail added to the day’s speculation: Capt Thamanat Prompow was pictured holidaying in Finland amid talk that the Kla Tham Party may be left out. The report said he is due to return Wednesday. No conclusion was drawn from the photo, and the report did not present any final decision. Related regional coverage has described earlier coalition signals in broad terms, including international reporting on Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai contacts. For context, see The Straits Times report on inviting Pheu Thai to join the coalition. Why this story is trending (and why rumors spread fast) Coalition politics attracts rumors because it mixes numbers, personalities, and timing. A single headline can sound final even when the legal steps aren’t complete. The “300-seat” phrase is also easy to repeat. It sounds like a finished product, even if it’s only a claim about potential support. That’s why Anutin’s denial drew attention. He didn’t just reject the number; he rejected the idea that a final deal exists before the EC certification step. This kind of back-and-forth has shown up in other coverage too, with Anutin and his party stressing that talks are not finalized. One example is Thairath’s English-language reporting on Anutin saying no talks yet. For readers trying to separate fact from noise, the safest approach is to track only what leaders say on record, and to watch for the EC’s certification milestone. FAQs: Clear answers to common questions about the reported 300-seat coalition Is the 300-seat coalition confirmed in Thailand? No. Anutin said reports of a secured “300-seat” coalition were premature, and he said no formal deal has been reached. He also said parties should wait until EC certification before naming partners. When will Thailand election results be certified by the EC? Anutin referenced that the law allows up to 60 days for certification. He also said certification has not been completed in under a month in past elections held under the 2017 constitution. That timeline is a limit and a reference point, not a guaranteed date. Can Thailand form a government before EC certification? Not in a formal sense. Parties can talk, but Anutin’s position is that they should not finalize or name coalition partners before certification. The key votes and formal steps depend on having results endorsed. What happens after EC certification? After certification, parties can speak more decisively about coalition partners because MPs are officially confirmed. Parliament can then move forward with its next business. Anutin said preliminary talks agreed that votes for House Speaker and prime minister should come before cabinet allocation talks. When will Thailand vote for prime minister and House Speaker? No date was confirmed in the report. Anutin said preliminary talks agreed the votes for prime minister and House Speaker should come first, ahead of cabinet allocation discussions. The timing depends on when certificati