Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s key coalition partner is standing behind his government even as its handling of severe flooding draws criticism and risks eroding public confidence.
The floods have “nothing to do with coalition stability,” Pheu Thai Party leader and Labor Minister Julapun Amornvivat said in an interview. Although he acknowledged the government’s response may have hurt public confidence.
“There has been criticism that the government’s handling of the situation may not have met people’s expectations, but that is not a coalition issue,” Julapun said Thursday in his first international media interview since taking office as labor minister six months ago.
The comments come as Anutin faces growing political pressure. Opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion Thursday against the prime minister and 17 cabinet ministers from his Bhumjaithai Party, accusing them of mismanagement and other failings.
The challenge puts a fresh spotlight on the durability of Anutin’s coalition, where Pheu Thai’s support is crucial to maintaining a parliamentary majority. Julapun, 51, said there were no problems among coalition parties over the flood response and that working together on the disaster had instead brought them “closer together.”
Pheu Thai, which holds 74 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, joined the Bhumjaithai-led coalition after February’s election and holds eight posts in Anutin’s 35-member cabinet .
The government has faced mounting criticism over its response after torrential rain inundated parts of Bangkok and other provinces, disrupting transport and businesses and forcing thousands from their homes. More than 3.5 million people have been affected by flooding since mid-September and at least 31 have died, according to authorities. The government has approved more than 4 billion baht ($120 million) in emergency funding.
The political pressure carries echoes of 2011, when a Pheu Thai government led by Yingluck Shinawatra faced catastrophic flooding just weeks after taking office and drew heavy criticism over its response. That disaster was far worse, killing more than 800 people and causing 1.4 trillion baht in damage and losses, much of it to manufacturing and global supply chains.
Julapun said government agencies have learned from past disasters, pointing to greater use of technology and closer coordination between ministries and Bangkok authorities. The government has deployed drones, rafts and digital platforms to deliver assistance and direct personnel to areas where floodwaters are receding, he said.
The Labor Ministry is working with other agencies to provide free repairs for flood-damaged motorcycles and household electrical systems and to restore transport links so employees can return to factories and other workplaces, Julapun said. Companies affected by the floods can seek low-interest loans on the condition that they retain at least 80% of their workforce.
Julapun also played down the potential political impact of any cabinet reshuffle, including speculation that the 58-seat opposition Klatham Party could join the coalition and dilute Pheu Thai’s influence.
Cabinet appointments are Anutin’s prerogative, he said, adding that Pheu Thai would continue supporting the government as long as any changes did not affect the party’s existing agreement with the prime minister.
“If his decision does not affect Pheu Thai, we will continue working as usual,” Julapun said. “If it does affect us, we can discuss it then.”
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