Move Forward Party leader and presumptive prime minister-elect Pita Limjaroenrat took the lectern to make to his case for the top political job today, deflecting criticism from his opponents and defending the positions that led his party to victory in May’s election.
Update: Pita falls short in parliament as mass abstentions muddy vote
Within minutes of voting which was moved up an hour earlier to 4pm, there were 6 votes for Pita to become the next prime minister, three opposed, and three abstentions. He needs 376 votes between the 500-member elected lower house and the 250-strong Senate comprised entirely of military appointees.
Follow the tally live by refreshing the page.
From the outset of this morning’s opening statements, Pita was beset with criticism by Bhumjaithai Party members Chada Thaiseth and Prapan Koonmee. Chada said Pita was not qualified for the job if he intends to amend Section 112, the law used to prosecute any perceived criticism of the monarchy. In response, Pita expressed gratitude for their right to question his qualifications as a fit leader, saying he strives to be a good listener and someone who lives up to his word.
“I strive to develop leadership qualities that, while everyone may not agree, they have a right to speak,” he said. “This is the role of the parliament. This is why we need the parliament to amend laws that are contentious.”
He noted that the purpose of today’s convening of parliament was not to debate legislation but to select the next prime minister.
A day after the Election Commission’s last-minute decision to refer Pita to the Constitutional Court for suspension pending a ruling on whether he broke the rules by inheriting shares in a defunct media company, the 42-year-old progressive politician said it was unfair the commission never called on him to hear his defense. But he would abide by the process, he added.
“This has been the case since my first candidacy as a member of parliament and has continued since,” he said. “I believe that accepting the scrutiny is better than not being involved in the verification process, whether it is conducted by the Election Commission or the Constitutional Court.”
Whether Pita can prevail by winning enough support from the military block of senators has been the burning political questions ever since his party’s surprise win in May. Riot police and water cannons have been deployed in the expectation of protests should the unelected lawmakers thwart the public’s choice for who should lead Thailand forward.
The end of opening statements kicked off about five hours of debate before voting was set to begin at 4pm by members of both the upper and lower houses.
