Overview

• Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul threatened to quit the coalition if he does not secure the Interior Ministry and refused Pheu Thai’s offer to exchange two other portfolios.
• Without Bhumjaithai’s 69 lawmakers, Pheu Thai’s majority in the 500-seat House would shrink from nearly two-thirds to a razor-thin margin.
• The Interior Ministry oversees local administration, giving its holder influence over regional power brokers ahead of the 2027 elections.
• The coalition rift could delay key July legislation, including a proposal to legalize casinos and next fiscal year’s budget.
• Investor worries over the political fallout have contributed to a 20% slide in Thailand’s benchmark stock index in 2025.