Thai election winner Pita Limjaroenrat will not become prime minister. Actually, the 42-year-old should have submitted to a second vote on Wednesday, but that never happened. Several senators had filed complaints against his candidacy.
Pita was also suspended as a member of parliament. Loud protests followed in front of the parliament building in Bangkok. Police were called in in riot gear to control the crowd. Angry Thais spoke of “political sabotage”.
Only semblance of democracy
The government of Thailand gives the appearance of democracy. However, since his election victory, many obstacles have been put in the way for Harvard graduate Pita. “It is clear that in the current system, gaining the trust of the people is not enough to run this country,” he wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. Pita’s progressive Move Forward Party won the most votes in May’s general election and has 151 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives. The ruling army suffered a setback.
Pita also managed to form an eight-party coalition. However, a clause in the constitution prevents him from becoming prime minister. Not only MPs, but also 250 military-appointed senators must vote on the prime minister. These are considered conservative and the majority refused to vote for Pita.
lèse-majeste decisive
The decisive factor may have been his party’s plan to amend the lèse-majeste law. In Thailand, despite protests, this is severely punished. The constitutional court even temporarily suspended the election winner as a member of parliament. This was at the request of an electoral commission. The reason for this are investigations into alleged shares in a media company. The 42-year-old is said to have owned it during his candidacy, which is banned in the country.
It is currently unclear how the Thai government will proceed. It is possible that Pita’s main coalition partner, the Pheu Thai party, will nominate a candidate. She was the second strongest force in the parliamentary elections.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
