BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- The Thai political party that backs the country's ousted prime minister won nearly half the seats in parliamentary elections Sunday with 96 percent of the vote counted -- allowing it to form a coalition government, a Thai election official told CNN on Monday.
art.thai.vote.afp.gi.jpg
An elephant puts a vote in a ballot box in Bangkok during a promotion for the general election.
The People Power Party, supported by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is on pace to win 232 seats in the 480-seat chamber, according to Secretary General of the Election Commission of Thailand Suthiphon Thaveechayagarn,.
"We now extend it -- (an) invitation, politically speaking, to all parties," PPP official Jakrapob Penkair said in opening up negotiations for coalition partners.
"There is no party in particular which is discriminated against in this process of forming the government and it depends on each party to respond now. The PPP is listening."
Jakrapob said he expects it to take a couple of weeks to put together a coaltion government.
The results have been a rebuke to the country's military, which toppled Thaksin in a bloodless coup 15 months ago, banning his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party.
The Democrat party, the movement backed by the military, was second with a projected 165 seats in parliament.
"The people spoke out and the military should listen to it very carefully," Jakrapob said.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a Thai political scientist, told CNN that the result reflects a polarized Thai electorate and presentcccccs a "predicament" for the military.
"It's a snub to the coup and the post-coup period. The coup has failed to uproot Mr Thaskin and now the military will be under pressure to try to protect itself, protect its interests. One hopes that it doesn't do anything hasty," said Thitinan, who stressed that if there is to be reconciliation, the old order that overthrew Thaksin needs to represent the new voices that have emerged.
Since its transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one 75 years ago, Thailand has seen its government overthrown by coups 18 times. The U.S. State Department welcomed reports that the election was conducted freely and fairly and congratulated the Thais on "taking this crucial step toward a return to elected government. "
report by cnn
art.thai.vote.afp.gi.jpg
An elephant puts a vote in a ballot box in Bangkok during a promotion for the general election.
The People Power Party, supported by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is on pace to win 232 seats in the 480-seat chamber, according to Secretary General of the Election Commission of Thailand Suthiphon Thaveechayagarn,.
"We now extend it -- (an) invitation, politically speaking, to all parties," PPP official Jakrapob Penkair said in opening up negotiations for coalition partners.
"There is no party in particular which is discriminated against in this process of forming the government and it depends on each party to respond now. The PPP is listening."
Jakrapob said he expects it to take a couple of weeks to put together a coaltion government.
The results have been a rebuke to the country's military, which toppled Thaksin in a bloodless coup 15 months ago, banning his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party.
The Democrat party, the movement backed by the military, was second with a projected 165 seats in parliament.
"The people spoke out and the military should listen to it very carefully," Jakrapob said.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a Thai political scientist, told CNN that the result reflects a polarized Thai electorate and presentcccccs a "predicament" for the military.
"It's a snub to the coup and the post-coup period. The coup has failed to uproot Mr Thaskin and now the military will be under pressure to try to protect itself, protect its interests. One hopes that it doesn't do anything hasty," said Thitinan, who stressed that if there is to be reconciliation, the old order that overthrew Thaksin needs to represent the new voices that have emerged.
Since its transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one 75 years ago, Thailand has seen its government overthrown by coups 18 times. The U.S. State Department welcomed reports that the election was conducted freely and fairly and congratulated the Thais on "taking this crucial step toward a return to elected government. "
report by cnn
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