Thailand's political deadlock may finally come to an end as the progressive Pheu Thai party announced on Monday that it will form a coalition with the Bhumjaithai Party. This move comes after months of political tension and exclusion of the Move Forward Party, which had initially won national elections but was blocked from forming a government by the conservative elite.

The impasse in selecting a new leader arose from the military-enacted constitution, which requires a prime minister to receive majority votes from both the elected House and the appointed Senate.

Move Forward's leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, had assembled a coalition with 312 seats in the lower house but fell short by more than 50 votes. He was subsequently barred from a second nomination. Members of the Senate, as well as the army, opposed Pita due to his party's call for the reform of a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand's royal family.

The Senate and the army see themselves as protectors of traditional royalist values. All parties involved are now looking for a resolution to the deadlock. Pheu Thai, as the second-largest party in the coalition, has taken the lead role in forming a government.

It announced its partnership with Bhumjaithai, the third-largest party, which held 71 seats in the lower house. Together, they hold 212 seats. Bhumjaithai, known for its ability to cut deals with parties on both sides of the political divide, was previously part of the military-backed coalition government.

Its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, serves as a deputy prime minister and the minister of public health. Bhumjaithai has joined the coalition under the condition that the royal defamation law will not be amended, and that the Move Forward Party will not be part of the government.

Both Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai plan to invite other parties to join them in forming a government, as they believe the current political crisis is causing severe damage to the country and its people. They aim to propose a new draft constitution to address the main factors contributing to the crisis.

The Constitutional Court's decision to deliberate on the legality of Parliament's previous vote to block Pita's renomination has further delayed the selection of a new leader. The court will meet again on August 16 to decide on the matter. Pheu Thai, affiliated with ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is hoping to bring stability to the country after years of political divisions.

Thaksin, a populist billionaire ousted in a 2006 military coup, plans to return to Thailand in the coming weeks. With the new coalition forming and a potential resolution to the political deadlock, Thailand may see a breakthrough that allows the country to move forward and address the challenges it faces.