Thailand's prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, expressed confidence on Tuesday that he has garnered sufficient support in the upper house to become the country's next premier. This announcement comes just days before the inaugural session of the new parliament.
Pita, who leads the progressive Move Forward Party, faces a challenging path to the premiership, despite his party's impressive victory in the May election, which marked a rejection of nearly nine years of military-backed government in Thailand.
His coalition, consisting of eight parties, currently holds 312 seats in parliament. However, according to the constitution, Pita needs a minimum of 376 votes in a joint sitting of the bicameral legislature, including the 250-member upper house. It is important to note that most of the upper house members were appointed by the military during their assumption of power in 2014.
When asked about the level of support he has secured in the Senate, Pita confidently stated that he has "enough to become prime minister."
Pita, who leads the progressive Move Forward Party, faces a challenging path to the premiership, despite his party's impressive victory in the May election, which marked a rejection of nearly nine years of military-backed government in Thailand.
His coalition, consisting of eight parties, currently holds 312 seats in parliament. However, according to the constitution, Pita needs a minimum of 376 votes in a joint sitting of the bicameral legislature, including the 250-member upper house. It is important to note that most of the upper house members were appointed by the military during their assumption of power in 2014.
When asked about the level of support he has secured in the Senate, Pita confidently stated that he has "enough to become prime minister."
There have been doubts regarding Pita's ability to garner sufficient support due to his party's controversial proposal to amend Thailand's strict lese majeste law, which prohibits any perceived insults against the monarchy and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Move Forward Party argues that this law is often exploited as a political tool against government opponents.
This stance has generated opposition from Thailand's royalist establishment and the conservative-leaning Senate, which consists of the old-money elite. Pita mentioned that his party is in the process of explaining their position to senators before the parliamentary vote in July.
Pita emphasized that amending the law to align with the current societal context should not hinder the formation of the government.
The parliament will convene on July 3, and the vote for the prime minister is scheduled to take place on July 13.
This stance has generated opposition from Thailand's royalist establishment and the conservative-leaning Senate, which consists of the old-money elite. Pita mentioned that his party is in the process of explaining their position to senators before the parliamentary vote in July.
Pita emphasized that amending the law to align with the current societal context should not hinder the formation of the government.
The parliament will convene on July 3, and the vote for the prime minister is scheduled to take place on July 13.
