Prime Minister: Coalition conflicts are nothing

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has acknowledged there are coordination hiccups from time to time that have resulted in misunderstandings with Pheu Thai’s biggest coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, but insists these are not serious and will not endanger government stability.

Ms Paetongtarn, speaking Sunday, said there was nothing strange about the March 2 meeting at the Chan Song La residence where she and her father, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, met Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul — who is leader of Bhumjaithai — and the Bhumjaithai founder Newin Chidchob to discuss policy.

Ms Paetongtarn dismissed recent speculation that the parties did not see eye-to-eye on issues such as the referendum and proposals to amend the charter.

“Where we have our differences, we come together to get them out.

“It’s not a conflict but a disagreement,” she said, adding that some issues were often left to coordinators from the two parties to work out.

But there had been disputes at times.

“This is something that we do need to work on,” she said.

There have also been occasions when she and Mr Anutin had struck a deal but subsequent internal communication lines created misunderstanding, the prime minister said.

“That’s why we have to discuss and figure out what should happen in the talks and who should participate,” Ms. Paetongtarn said.