BANGKOK: The new year is expected to be challenging year for the Thai government as it battles various issues and several different fronts.
Although a razor-thin majority in the parliament will no longer be a concern for the government this year, persistent economic problems will put its abilities to the test, academics said.
The Thai coalition government led by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has secured two more House seats following by-elections in Nakhon Pathom and Khon Kaen, giving it 255 seats over the opposition's 244.
In a Bangkok Post special report, it said that the Thai may increase its strength as the New Economics Party (NEP) had hinted it was ready to join the government, provided it receives an invitation from key coalition figures.
Previously, four NEP lawmakers had refused to join a parliament walkout and it gave the government the quorum it needed to shoot down a motion to form a panel to scrutinise executive orders issued by the post-coup National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
In December, the Future Forward Party (FFP) expelled four MPs who had continually voted against the party in parliament.
The renegade members have 30 days to join new parties, or lose their seats.
The government's marginal majority in the House will be strengthened further if the four MPs join the coalition.
As such, the opposition will now find it harder to put pressure on the government, especially since the FFP is facing dissolution cases in court.
The Constitutional Court will rule on whether to dissolve the FFP on Jan 21 over allegations that it tried to overthrow the monarchy.
The court also accepted the Election Commission (EC) request to consider the FFP's dissolution for allegedly violating the law on political parties when it accepted a 191 million baht (RM26 million) election campaign loan from its leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Stithorn Thananithichote, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy under the King Prajadhipok's Institute, told the Bangkok Post that though the government claimed two more House seats in the two by-elections, it still needs support from other MPs in important motions in parliament.
A no-confidence motion tabled by the Opposition is expected this month, and the crucial budget bill, whose second and third readings come next month.
Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan o-cha said he was not bothered by the no-confidence motion against him and another four cabinet ministers this month.
“I am not worried at all (about the no-confidence debate). We will answer them (the opposition). They have to listen and not just raise questions without listening to the answers.
“The people should also listen to our answers,” he said.
The Opposition plans to launch a no-confidence motion against Prayuth and four other cabinet ministers – believed to be Deputy Prime Ministers, Somkid Jatusripaitak and Wissanu krea-ngam, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda.
Stithorn said the main opposition Pheu Thai Party is now in disarray and "rudderless".
He said that Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, the party's chief strategist, has failed to gain acceptance from other Pheu Thai factions, particularly MPs from its Northeast stronghold.
He added that the rifts in Pheu Thai would only open the door for the ruling party to find more renegade MPs.
Former adviser to the Constitutional Drafting Committee Jade Donavanik said while the government would work more freely with the support of renegades from the opposition, the real challenge will be to improve the economy, especially the bread and butter issues affecting people's daily lives.
So far, the government has failed to show how it can address economic problems, which are expected to deepen this year.
Jade said Prayut, who heads the team of economic ministers, and Somkid, seem to have run out of ideas to cure economic woes.
He added that politics in 2020 will be linked to the government's ability to tackle such problems.
Chief opposition whip Sutin Klungsang said the government still had trouble coordinating with its coalition partners, particularly the Democrat Party, adding the government's failure to solve economic problems will prevent it from winning back investor confidence.
"From January, moves in parliament, such as the push for constitutional amendments and the no-confidence debate, will inflict wounds on the prime minister and parties in the coalition, rocking its stability and leading to a cabinet reshuffle. This will be the government's undoing," he added.