The progressive Move Forward party leader says he wants to form a coalition government with seven other parties following a sweeping victory in Thailand’s parliamentary elections on Sunday.

The eight-party coalition would have 313 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives.

This made Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat the top candidate to become Thailand’s next prime minister.

Thai PBS World gave the report on Thursday.

However, the Thai prime minister was determined by the 500 newly elected members of parliament and the 250 unelected military-appointed senators.

After their 2014 coup, the generals, who have been in power until now, passed a constitutional amendment in their favour.

A candidate thus needed 376 votes to get into office.

It was unknown whether any senator would support the opposition.

A vote would be expected in late July or early August.

The main sticking point was the Move Forward party’s plan to amend the controversial Lèse-Majesté, which punished offenders with up to 15 years in prison.

That is if they are found guilty of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent.

Thailand’s punishments for such offences were more severe than in almost any other country.

There have long been protests against the law, but many conservative politicians wanted it kept.

All coalition parties would sign a memorandum of understanding on Monday, Mr Pita told journalists.

The date is significant as it marks nine years since the military seized power on May 22, 2014.

(dpa/NAN)