The Thai Constitutional Court suspended Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and a prime ministerial candidate, from his elected position in the House of Representatives. The suspension was a result of a complaint lodged against Mr. Pita concerning his inherited shareholding in the now-defunct media company iTV Plc. This move occurred amid ongoing debates within the parliament regarding the legitimacy of his re-nomination for the prime ministerial role.
Today (19) morning, after learning about the court’s decision, Pita Limjaroenrat began to leave the parliamentary chamber where lawmakers were discussing technical issues related to his candidacy for prime minister. However, he returned to his seat when reminded by MFP MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn to wait for an official advisory letter from the Constitutional Court, stressing the importance of adhering to proper procedures.
Approximately 150 supporters of Pita Limjaroenrat gathered outside the parliament gate to express their disappointment with the court’s suspension ruling. Some demonstrators even resorted to throwing plastic water bottles at the gate, leading to the deployment of crowd control police to maintain order.
Later in the day, Pita Limjaroenrat informed the parliament that he had received the official suspension order from the Constitutional Court. As a result, he made the decision to leave the chamber. In response to his departure, fellow MPs applauded the move, and the parliament president thanked him for respecting the rules and procedures of the court.
The core issue leading to Pita Limjaroenrat’s suspension was his ownership of 42,000 shares in the defunct media company iTV Plc. The Thai constitution expressly forbids parliamentarians from holding stock in media organizations to avoid conflicts of interest. Mr. Pita argued that the shares were part of his late father’s estate, which he managed as the executor, and that he subsequently transferred the ownership to relatives.
The suspension from the House of Representatives does not automatically disqualify Pita Limjaroenrat from being nominated as prime minister. The joint sitting continued to debate his candidacy on the same day. However, the suspension will remain in effect until the Constitutional Court reaches a final ruling on the matter. The court has also requested Mr. Pita to provide a detailed explanation within 15 days after receiving the official suspension order, signaling the seriousness and complexity of the case.
According to sources, if Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and a prime ministerial candidate fails to win the voting to become the next Prime Minister of Thailand, the opportunity will be transferred to the Pheu Thai Party.
-Bangkok Post-
