Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat at the party's headquarters in Bangkok on May 15.
AFP news agency reported on May 15 that the Move Forward Party (MFP) declared victory in Thailand's general election, surpassing the military-backed parties that have ruled the country for nearly a decade.
The impressive breakthrough in the May 14 election put the MFP on track to become the largest party, followed by the Pheu Thai party with candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thai opposition wins election, will discuss alliance with Shinawatra family party
According to the Bangkok Post , the Election Commission (EC) finished counting votes on the morning of May 15 and announced the victory of the Forward Party.
ECN Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said the MFP won a total of 151 seats, followed by Pheu Thai with 141 seats, Bhumjaithai with 71 seats, Palang Pracharath with 40 seats and the United Thai National Party with 36 seats. The remaining parties followed.
Six-party alliance
MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 43, said he would seek to form a coalition of six parties, including Pheu Thai. "I am Pita Limjaroenrat, the next prime minister of Thailand. We are ready to form a government," he told reporters at the MFP headquarters in Bangkok, adding that he would be "a prime minister for all."
He said he called Ms Paetongtarn to congratulate her and invite her to join the alliance.
Thai opposition wins election, will discuss alliance with Shinawatra family party
Thais have gone to the polls in droves, with many rejecting incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of the United Thai Nation (UTN) party, after criticizing the sluggish economy.
Thus, MFP and Pheu Thai will win 292 out of 500 seats in the House of Representatives, with the two main pro-military parties winning only 76 seats in total.
The MFP has vowed to reform Thailand's anti-monarchy law, setting up clashes with the powerful royalist military.
Young, dynamic
Mr Pita has been a dynamic presence on the campaign trail. With his photogenic face, he has used his youth and energy to reach voters hungry for change after eight years of military-backed rule.
The MFP is the only party that has pledged to reform the lese majeste law. The sensitive subject has long been out of Thai politics, and even Pheu Thai has said it will leave it to parliament to decide.
However, Mr. Pita said on May 14 that "no matter what, we will push for reform of the lese majeste law."
Studying abroad in New Zealand and the US, this politician won an international scholarship to Harvard University (USA), before becoming a businessman.
However, after his father passed away when he was 25, he returned to run the family's debt-ridden Agrifood business and turned it around. He later became the director of transportation and distribution for Grab Thailand.
In 2012, he married Thai television actress Chutima Teepanat and the couple had a 7-year-old daughter. The marriage broke down in 2019. His daughter was a frequent presence on the campaign trail, as he often brought her on stage after speeches, to the delight of the crowd.
Online, he has a personal account with nearly 1 million followers, where he shares pictures of himself and his daughter wearing matching t-shirts and eating ice cream together.
The politician must now form a coalition with other parties to overcome the government-appointed senators when the two houses elect a prime minister in July from among the eligible candidates.
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