BANGKOK, 4 JULY, 2011: Pheu Thai will form a coalition government with four other parties in order to ensure a stable government, prime ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra said, today.

Pheu Thai, which won 265 seats in yesterday's general election, will join hands with Chart Thai Pattana (19 seats), Chart Pattana Pueu Pandin (seven seats), Phalang Chon (seven seats) and Mahachon (one seat).

"With 299 seats, the coalition government is stable enough to work and serve people," she told reporters, after meeting leaders of the parties during lunch at a hotel, here.

Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, Chart Thai Pattana advisor Mej Gen Sanan Kajornprasart, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin leader Wannarat Charnnukul, and Phalang Chon leader Chao Maneewong attended the meeting.

Yingluck said the new government's immediate agenda was to work towards reconciliation among the people, and addressing the country's economic problems, especially the high prices of goods and commodities.

"We will also restore bilateral ties with our neighboring country," she said, apparently referring to Thai-Cambodian ties.

The relationship between the two countries was strained in the past due to conflicts along their borders.

She said all five component parties shared a common aspiration of taking the country to greater heights of development and stability, for the benefit of its people.

Under the Thai Constitution, the Parliament must hold its first session within 30 days of election. It must then elect a prime minister through voting, before forming a new government.

Pheu Thai’s de facto leader, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, had hinted during elections that the party might form a coalition government, even if it secured a majority of seats. This is because the party would it find difficult to function if all losing parties joined the opposition.

Chart Thai Pattana was a coalition partner of the previous administration, led by the Democrat Party.

Chart Pattana Puea Pandin is a merger between Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Puea Pandin, both of which parties were also coalition partners of the previous administration.

- Bernama