Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the reformist Move Forward party in Thailand, won the popular vote but has faced a significant setback in his quest to become Prime Minister. Despite holding a parliamentary majority, he fell short of acquiring the requisite number of votes in parliament to attain the position during the first voting. The voting process to elect a prime minister will continue until the position is filled.
In a renewed effort to secure the prime ministerial role, Pita Limjaroenrat was renominated by eight coalition allies, indicating their ongoing support. These allies have agreed to present Limjaroenrat as their candidate in the joint session of the elected House and military-appointed Senate for the second round of voting, scheduled for Wednesday (19).
However, Limjaroenrat acknowledged that if the votes in his favor do not show a significant increase, he would gracefully withdraw from the race, allowing the Pheu Thai Party to take their turn. The condition for a notable increase is defined as an incremental gain of 10% or more, reflecting the desire for a clear majority consensus.
Although the Move Forward Party secured a victory in the May 14 general election with 151 House seats, their leader’s first attempt at the prime ministership did not yield the desired outcome. This setback highlights the complexity of the political landscape and the need to gather broader support within the parliamentary framework.
It is worth noting that some senators questioned the legitimacy of Limjaroenrat’s resubmission as a prime ministerial candidate, citing his previous failure to obtain a majority vote from the House and the Senate on July 13. However, Limjaroenrat clarified that the nomination process for prime minister should not be considered a motion, thus dismissing the parliamentary session regulation that restricts the resubmission of motions.
While the Move Forward Party’s nomination faces scrutiny and challenges, Limjaroenrat’s party continues to pursue their core objectives, including their commitment to amending the lese majeste law (Section 112 of the Criminal Code). However, this proposal has encountered strong opposition from many senators and representatives, who have voiced their concerns and cited it as a primary reason for not supporting Limjaroenrat as the next prime minister.
As the voting process progresses, Limjaroenrat remains determined to gain more support from senators and hopes to secure increased votes in his favor during the upcoming session on Wednesday. The coalition allies are rallying behind him, showcasing their dedication to the Move Forward Party’s vision and goals.
The journey towards selecting a prime minister in Thailand continues, with the third round of voting scheduled for Thursday (20), as announced by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
-Bangkok Post-
