Thailand's PM faces bigger threat than protests: coalition rifts

BANGKOK -- A local by-election on March 7 has risen in political significance because of simmering tensions that have surfaced within Thailand's coalition government, confronting Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha with new rifts in his 19-party alliance.

The Democrat Party -- the country's oldest party and a junior partner in the coalition -- is openly feuding with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the pro-military senior partner, for fielding a candidate to contest in the southern Nakhon Si Thammarat province constituency that has traditionally been a Democrat stronghold.