Thailand : Court Rejects Election Winners’ PM Bid Appeal

On August 16, Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed the Move Forward Party’s appeal to review a parliamentary ruling that prevented their Prime Ministerial candidate from seeking re-nomination, despite their victory in the elections.

The case dismissed on Wednesday revolved around the question of whether it was constitutional for parliament to deny Pita a second vote.

The decision effectively eliminates any remaining possibility for the progressive Move Forward Party to take the lead in the upcoming government, making way for the legislature to potentially conduct a new prime ministerial vote as early as this week. The court’s ruling was unanimously reached.

The court’s ruling stated that it rejected the case due to its submission by a group of over 20 individuals, excluding the prime ministerial candidate himself.

In a unanimous decision, the court asserted that the petitioners lacked the authority to file the complaint, stating that their rights were not violated.

For the past five months, Thailand has been governed by a caretaker administration as the major parliamentary parties have struggled to establish a new government. 

This challenge arose following the rejection of Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the anti-establishment Move Forward party, as the prime ministerial candidate by lawmakers aligned with the royalist military.

Court Ruling Blocked Pita’s Second Attempt to become PM of Thailand

Under the leadership of Pita Limjaroenrat, Move Forward won the most seats in the general elections held on May 14. They had strong supporters, urban and young Thai, thereby bringing an end to almost ten years of rule supported by the military.

However, the 42-year-old politician’s initial attempt to secure the position of Thailand’s next prime minister was turned down in July by lawmakers who were aligned with the royalist military.

However, The efforts of Move Forward to establish a government fell short of enough support, as there was widespread resistance to their proposal to amend a law aimed at protecting the monarchy from criticism.

Then, The Allies of the Move Forward Party submitted a petition to the court, requesting an assessment on the legality of a July 19 parliamentary decision. 

This decision barred Pita from seeking re-nomination as the prime ministerial candidate for a second time, following his unsuccessful initial attempt.

New Coalition Seeks Political Influence in PM Vote to be held next week

The Parliament of Thailand is set to meet in the upcoming week to choose a new prime minister.

Parliament speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha announced on Wednesday that a joint session involving the elected House of Representatives and the military-appointed Senate is scheduled for August 22. 

This session will mark the second round of voting to choose a prime minister since the May 14 general election, which resulted in the defeat of parties aligned with royalist and military support.

This Announcement followed the dismissal of a petition by the constitutional court, which had contested a parliamentary ruling from the previous month denying the pro-democracy leader Pita Limjaroenrat an opportunity for a second attempt at the prime ministerial position.

A parliamentary vote is scheduled to decide on the prime ministerial nomination of Srettha Thavisin, a businessman and political newcomer from the fresh coalition led by Pheu Thai Party, which secured the second position by a parliamentary approval.

The coalition led by Pheu Thai, with the current backing of 238 legislators in the House of Representatives, must secure additional support from either the Senate or from parties with military backing, even though it had been in opposition to them previously.

Securing the position of prime minister, it requires the candidate to receive approval from a majority in both parliamentary chambers: the 500 elected representatives in the House of Representatives and the 250 members of the Senate, who were appointed during military rule. 

Pheu Thai has expressed certainty that Srettha will secure an adequate number of votes.