Thai reformist leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid to become prime minister ended yesterday, despite his party winning the most votes in May elections, after the military and pro-royalist establishment blocked his bid for power.
Pita’s Move Forward Party (MFP) has ridden high on the support of young and urban Thais frustrated by nearly a decade of army-backed rule, but its efforts to form a government have stumbled.
The 42-year-old was dramatically suspended from the Thai House of Representatives while seated in the chamber for discussions on his candidacy, which came to an end when lawmakers voted to refuse considering him for a second ballot.
Photo: Reuters
“I would like to say goodbye until we meet again,” he said, raising his fist as he left the assembly floor to the cheers of party allies.
Pita’s suspension came when Thailand’s Constitutional Court said it would proceed with a case that could see the leader disqualified from the House altogether for owning shares in a media company.
Lawmakers are forbidden from doing so under Thailand’s constitution, although the television station in question has not broadcast since 2007.
Photo: AP
Pita, Harvard-educated and wealthy from a family-run agrifood business, has said the shares were inherited from his father. He has 15 days to respond to the case.
After he left the House, lawmakers voted by a large margin to rule that he could not be considered for the post a second time.
“Pita can’t be nominated twice in this parliamentary session,” Thai House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said, over howls of protest from within the chamber, immediately before the day’s proceedings were called to an end.
Dozens of supporters cried and shouted abuse at a large riot police cordon guarding the gates of parliament after news of Pita’s suspension broke.
“Why even ask people to go to the polls?” said one protester, who did not give his name.
Protesters began gathering in the evening for a public rally near Bangkok’s Democracy Monument and police said they were prepared for any unrest.
“No matter what their opinions are, they need to follow rules and orders set by the police,” Royal Thai Police spokesman Archayon Kraithong said.
Pita’s first tilt at becoming prime minister failed when he fell dozens of votes short of the required support in a joint parliamentary sitting.
The Thai Senate is stacked with military appointees, with only 13 of 249 serving senators voting for Pita last week.
Other roadblocks have been thrown in front of his candidacy.
The court has also agreed to hear a case alleging that MFP’s campaign promise to amend Thailand’s royal defamation law is tantamount to a plan to “overthrow” the constitutional monarchy.
Pita’s party has refused to compromise on its pledge to revise the law, which can allow convicted critics of the monarchy to be jailed for up to 15 years.
The MFP’s reformist platform also poses a threat to family-owned business monopolies that play an outsized role in the kingdom’s economy.
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