Thai poll body certifies election results, clearing path for new parliament

BANGKOK, March 4 (Reuters) – Thailand’s election commission said on Wednesday it has certified 499 of 500 parliamentary seats won in last month’s general election, clearing the way for a new house to convene and a new government to be formed.

* Under the rules, the new parliament must meet within 15days of certification. It will elect a speaker and deputyspeaker and will then choose a prime minister, who will move toform a government. * The certified results show Prime Minister AnutinCharnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party winning 191 seats, followed bythe People’s Party on 120, the Pheu Thai Party on 74 and KlaTham on 58.  * Bhumjaithai has said it plans to form a coalition withthird-place Pheu Thai and several smaller parties – an alliancethat would hold an estimated 292 seats. * A new government is expected to begin working in April, aBhumjaithai party official told Reuters. * The poll body said 37.8 million Thais voted in theFebruary 8 election, representing 71.42% eligible voters. * The commission said it still needs time to investigate 246election-related complaints. 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty)