Thailand’s Pita Limjaroenrat initial attempt to secure the position of the country’s next prime minister was foiled as he failed to garner enough support in a crucial parliamentary vote. Despite the backing of his eight-party alliance, Pita, the leader of the election-winning Move Forward party, was unable to rally the required majority from the bicameral parliament’s 749 members, as nearly 200 abstained and several others were absent.
However, there is a possibility of another vote next week, allowing Pita to participate if nominated once again. The progressive Move Forward party, along with its ally Pheu Thai, emerged victorious in the May 14 election, signifying a widespread rejection of the royalist military’s influence during the past decade. This recent vote served as a crucial test of Pita’s political influence and measured the opposition to his party’s anti-establishment agenda, which encompasses the depoliticization of the military, the reduction of business monopolies, and the revision of the law imposing severe penalties for insulting the monarchy.
The defeat dealt a blow to the 42-year-old Pita, who had a challenging two days leading up to the vote. Momentum gathered behind two legal complaints against him, including a recommendation for his disqualification, prompting hundreds of protesters to assemble, expressing concerns about attempts to hinder Move Forward’s ascent to power. Pita’s unwavering commitment to pursuing his party’s agenda has put him in conflict with a formidable coalition of conservatives and influential established families that have exerted significant control over Thai politics for decades. It was widely anticipated that these forces would attempt to obstruct him in parliament.
Despite securing victory in the election with strong support from the youth and popularity in Bangkok, Pita needed to win over some members of the conservative-leaning Senate, which consists of 249 individuals appointed by the military following the 2014 coup.
