Thailand edges closer to new government as poll body certifies most election results

Thailand's election commission on Wednesday certified nearly 400 parliamentary seats won in this month's general election, moving a step closer to the formation of a new government.

396 constituency seats in the 500-member lower house have been certified, the commission said. There are 104 seats yet to be confirmed, of which 100 are party-list.

A new parliament must convene within 15 days of the certification of at least 475 seats, 95% of the total, after which the house will elect a prime minister to form a government.

A commission source told Reuters that party-list seats were expected to be certified next week.

Preliminary results on election night showed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party winning most seats, followed by People's Party and the Pheu Thai party.

Bhumjaithai has said it would be joined by third-place Pheu Thai in a coalition government alongside several smaller parties, an alliance that would hold an estimated 286 seats.

There have been some complaints over alleged electoral irregularities that could lead to legal cases against the poll body. 

Reuters