Since Pita Limjaroenrat led his Move Forward Party (MFP) to a landslide victory in Thailand’s general election in mid-May, the young politician has faced a series of complaints and legal controversies challenging his bid to become Thailand’s prime minister after more than a decade of military rule.
Now, with Thailand's parliament scheduled to convene on July 3 and lawmakers expected to vote for a new prime minister on July 13, the 42-year-old leader has little time left to ensure that his victory in the recent general election is not symbolic.
Pita’s eight-party coalition won 312 seats in the lower house. Under the Thai constitution, to become prime minister, Pita needs at least 376 votes in a joint session of the bicameral legislature, including the 250-member Senate, a body appointed by the royalist military since 2014.
The challenges
Mr Pita's biggest challenge remains that many members of the Senate oppose his proposal to ease the punishment for criticising the royal family. Many senators even seem to care that his Move Forward Party won the most votes.
“It is not our job to listen to the people,” Senator Prapanth Koonmee said in an interview, having previously said that 90 percent of lawmakers in the Thai Senate had already made up their minds. “Even if you have 100 million votes, I will not elect you if I do not like you or find you unsuitable,” Prapanth said.
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat leads party members to appear at the National Assembly in Bangkok, June 20, 2023. Photo: The Nation
Such statements have not deterred Mr. Pita, a Harvard graduate who has built support from a range of pro-democracy parties since the legislative elections, and has been traveling the country trying to maintain public enthusiasm for the May 14 election results, which dealt a heavy blow to the royalists.
Time is running out before the vote to elect Thailand’s prime minister, which is expected to take place shortly after King Maha Vajiralongkorn opens the new parliament next week. If Mr Pita fails to secure the necessary support, it could mean the disintegration of the Move Forward-led coalition, or a minority government.
Pita also needs to address a growing rift between his Move Forward Party and the second-largest bloc in the coalition, Pheu Thai, over the House speakership. The parties abruptly canceled a planned meeting on June 21 after Pheu Thai said it wanted its own candidate for the post, and Move Forward unilaterally announced its own candidate.
According to The Nation (Thailand), in the first session on July 3, the Thai National Assembly will elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The uncertainty has hit Thai markets and global investors hard. Thailand’s main stock index is Asia’s worst performer this year, down about 11%.
Go ahead with confidence
Amid the uncertainty, Mr. Pita sought to reassure his supporters. Asked on June 20 how much support he had in the Senate, Mr. Pita replied: “Enough to become Prime Minister.”
Move Forward is in the process of explaining its position to senators ahead of a parliamentary vote in July, Mr Pita added.
“We are working hard to break down the wall and build understanding between the two houses,” the Move Forward leader said at the Thai Parliament House on June 20. “There is continuous progress.”
He also reached out to various business groups to talk about the transition and his agenda for his first 100 days in office.
“Pita appears to be trying to create the impression that he is the next prime minister of Thailand, in the hope of pressuring senators to support him,” said Peter Mumford, Southeast Asia director at consultancy Eurasia Group. “However, it is far from certain that this strategy will work.”
Mr Pita's confidence as the incoming prime minister has helped energise Move Forward supporters, who have been pressuring senators in online campaigns, public seminars and street protests to declare their support for the young politician.
Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party, during a rally to thank supporters in Nonthaburi, central Thailand, on May 18, 2023. Photo: NY Times
But the voices of the masses risk falling on deaf ears, as many senators have remained silent or publicly rejected their support for Mr Pita.
For many senators, they do not support Mr. Pita as Prime Minister largely because Move Forward wants to amend the Lèse-majesté Law, or Article 112 of the Thai Penal Code, which punishes those who criticize the king and other members of the Royal Family.
“Senators do not like his disloyalty to the monarchy and his plans to reform and uproot Thai society,” said Senator Prapanth, 69. “It is unacceptable.”
Mr Pita has denied allegations of disloyalty, saying he is simply seeking to improve relations between the monarchy and the people.
Senator Prapanth’s comments show how much opposition Mr Pita and his pro-democracy coalition face. However, with Move Forward having previously ruled out an alliance with pro-military conservative parties, Mr Pita now has little choice but to win the support of as many senators as possible.
Mr Zakee Phithakkumpol, a 45-year-old senator who is inclined to support Mr Pita, said he believed that adhering to democratic principles was the only way to prevent chaos.
“Thai society is at a crossroads between change and delay,” said Zakee. “Your choices will make some people uncomfortable, so it is more important to respect the rules. I believe that doing the right thing is the best protection . ”
Minh Duc (According to Bloomberg, Reuters)
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