Jakarta –
Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, had her last chance on Wednesday (19/07) to establish herself as prime minister of Thailand in a second round, after parliament rejected her in the first round of voting last week.
However, Pita Limjaroenrat’s attempt to advance as Prime Minister of Thailand was thwarted. Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday suspended PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat from his parliamentary duties, citing election crimes against him.
With a majority vote, the court said it would consider the Election Committee’s petition which would disqualify Pita from being a member of parliament. Meanwhile, the judiciary said Pita “should suspend her role from July 19, until the decision of the Constitutional Court.”
Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who won a surprise first place in last May’s general election, failed to win enough support from the senate, with other MPs making it clear they would not vote for Pita because of her party’s campaign.
MFP reform campaign
The Pita party is campaigning on promises to change laws against insulting or threatening the Thai monarchy, which it deems to be illegal. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is being misused as a political weapon.
Members of the Senate under the military junta government, together with Thailand’s high court, are the strongest bulwark of the Thai royal conservatives against a change.
The MFP’s successful agenda attracted the attention of young voters, as well as seeking reforms, which would reduce the influence of the military in Thai politics. So far, the military government has staged a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and a massive business monopoly
Ribbons need more voices
On Monday (17/07), Pita said she would seek another run for prime minister of Thailand in a second round, but stated that she would allow a candidate from her coalition party to run if Pita failed to garner votes for her.
The other candidate in question is most likely from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, which is 10 seats less than the 151 seats won by the MFP. The coalition of eight parties managed to garner a total of 312 seats in the DPR, with a majority of elected MPs.
However, becoming the new prime minister would require half the combined votes of the total 740 members of parliament and the senate. The eight-party coalition was only able to garner 324 votes last week, far below the 376 needed.
Pita is the only MFP candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names, namely Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, a chief strategist of the party.
Paetongtarn was touted as the main prospect of the Pheu Thai party during yesterday’s election campaign, but Srettha emerged as the favorite candidate. Srettha only entered politics actively last year. Srettha’s strongest selling points are her business acumen and experience.
New coalition?
If Pita or the Pheu Thai candidate is unable to win a parliamentary vote, there will be pressure to form a new coalition, adding a less liberal partner. But it also meant the new coalition would topple the MFP which was seen as a stumbling block, because of the position of the MFP’s reform proposals for the kingdom.
Meanwhile, the MFP has been determined not to support a government with parties tainted by its nine-year military-backed relationship, so the MFP may find it more comfortable being in opposition.
“I think they (MFP) are more willing to come out of their own position and respect what they have announced to voters in the pre-election campaign,” said Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand.
Professor Saowanee also said he was still hopeful but pessimistic, as the issue of monarchy reform “makes the political future very difficult.”
News of Pita’s possible failure to serve as Thailand’s new prime minister has riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who have called for a demonstration on Wednesday (19/07).
kp/rs (AP/AFP/Reuters)
(it/it)
2023-07-19 07:53:42
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