Pita Limjaroenrat, head of the Move Forward Party and the presumptive leading candidate to be Thailand’s next prime minister, issued an appeal this morning for the legislature to back a majority government.
Two days before the upper and lower houses are scheduled to meet and cast a lopsided vote dominated by military appointees to the Senate, Pita issued a video statement in which he called for lawmakers to support “the will of the people.”
“This is Thailand’s opportunity for us to restore some normalcy to the country once again, to give Thailand a chance to have a fair and just government again,” Pita spoke directly into the camera.
The Senate, which is fully appointed by the military, commands 250 votes and is widely expected to oppose his ascension to the premiership despite Move Forward receiving a plurality of votes in the May election.
While many have predicted the parliament could become locked in a series of indecisive votes, the head of an important swing block in the 500-member lower house, Bhumjaithai Party’s Anutin Charnvirakul, said this morning that Pita should be set aside if he fails to win in the first round.
Asked whether the vote could be completed in one round, Anutin, who has sided with the status quo against Move Forward, said the second-place party’s candidate should then be put forward.
Pheu Thai placed second in May and has fielded three candidates for the top job. Move Forward garnered 38% of the vote, winning 151 seats in the House of Representatives. Pheu Thai secured 28.9% of the vote and 141 seats. The military proxy party headed by 2014 coup leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has ruled for nine years, placed a distant third with 12.6% of the vote.
จากพิธาถึงทุกคน ก่อนวันโหวตนายกรัฐมนตรี 13 กรกฎาคมนี้
— Pita Limjaroenrat (@Pita_MFP) July 11, 2023
ให้โอกาสประเทศไทยได้มีรัฐบาลเสียงข้างมากตามเจตจำนงของประชาชน
เดินหน้าตามครรลองประชาธิปไตย คืนความปกติสู่การเมือง pic.twitter.com/uiRblmzdqa
Anutin said forming a government at this time was a matter for the first- and second-ranked parties as well as their six coalition members. He said that the eight parties aligned with Move Forward had not discussed voting for Pita with Bhumjaithai.
Bhumjaithai reps have been seen meeting since the election with Pheu Thai figures, sparking rumors of a deal to sidestep Pita.
Asked if protests could erupt during or after the vote, Anutin said that public assembly is a protected right, though it should not create turmoil or division. However, Anutin did not respond to whether he feared the consequences.
Last week, a police memo ordering the preparation of detention centers for any mass arrests of protesters.
The Election Commission demured again Monday on whether to forward allegations that Pita violated election law by owning shares in a defunct media company to the Constitutional Court, which could invalidate his electoral win and ban him from politics, as happened to his predecessor, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of the disbanded Future Forward Party.
Observers speculate that could be used by some senators as cover to vote against Pita.
At least 10 junta-appointed senators have signaled they will vote for Pita, including Amphon Jondawattana. However, there are rumors senators will oppose a second round of voting for Pita if he fails the first.
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