Market Research Record – Thai reformist leader Pita Limjaroenrat has been suspended from parliament, dealing a blow to his already slim chances of becoming the country’s prime minister. The Constitutional Court of Thailand has issued the suspension following its decision to hear a case against Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party. The court will determine whether he should be disqualified from parliament due to his ownership of shares in a defunct media company. While he can still run for the premiership if disqualified, it is unlikely that he will garner enough votes for a victory.
In response to the court’s order, Pita Limjaroenrat announced in parliament that he would halt his work until the court reaches a verdict on his case. He urged his fellow parliamentarians to use their positions to serve the people, emphasizing that Thailand has undergone significant changes since May 14. Despite being unable to actively work, he appealed to his colleagues to prioritize the welfare of the people.
The Move Forward party has stated that the suspension will not hinder Pita Limjaroenrat’s nomination. In an Instagram post after the court ruling, he acknowledged the unlikelihood of securing the required votes to become prime minister.
The 42-year-old, who holds a Harvard degree and has a background in the tech industry, led his party to victory in the May elections by championing extensive reforms, including a commitment to amend Thailand’s strict lese-majeste laws that criminalize criticism of the monarchy. Move Forward has gained popularity among young Thai voters who aspire to end nearly a decade of conservative military rule.
Pita Limjaroenrat needed the support of more than half of the 749 members in parliament’s two chambers to secure the premiership. However, last week’s vote yielded only 324 votes in his favor, falling 51 votes short of the required 375. His prospects were always challenging, as there was little indication of sufficient support from the 249 unelected senators in the upper house. These senators were appointed by the leaders of a 2006 coup to curtail any democratic outcomes that the military and royalists found uncomfortable.
Pro-establishment forces have actively sought to prevent Pita Limjaroenrat from assuming power following the surprising election results in May. Two cases have been filed against him in the Constitutional Court, which tends to lean conservative. One of the complaints argues that Move Forward’s proposal to amend lese-majeste laws, which have resulted in the imprisonment of numerous monarchy critics, amounts to an attempt to overthrow Thailand’s political order.
This recent verdict adds to the list of controversial rulings by the Constitutional Court. In 2019, the court dissolved Future Forward, the predecessor to Move Forward, for violating electoral regulations. Moreover, since 2008, the court has removed three prime ministers affiliated with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the 2006 coup.
Ironically, Pheu Thai, which has been a frequent target of the Constitutional Court’s decisions, is now poised to benefit from the court’s ruling against its coalition partner. Pheu Thai, the second most popular party, has assumed the role of championing democracy, which was previously associated with Move Forward.
