BANGKOK: A parliamentary vote to choose Thailand’s new prime minister, which was scheduled for Friday( Aug 4 ) was once more postponed after a court ruled against the progressive party that had won the election in May, adding to the growing skepticism regarding the timing of the new government taking office.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the surprise election win, was nominated for prime ministerial office twice, but the Constitutional Court said on Thursday that it needs more time to consider whether to take the express ombudsman’s complaint.
In the May vote, the liberal Move Forward Party won first place and put together an eight-party alliance with 312 seats in the lower house’s 500 members. However, the traditional 250-member appointed Senate and a majority vote are required for the confirmation of the new prime minister, which has been difficult for congress to do.
Pita’s first bid last month was defeated by more than 50 votes, mainly due to the support of just 13 senators. The following year, when parliament decided that he could not publish his name again, it prevented him from being given a second chance.
Several senators who had previously served in the military declared they would never support Pita because of his group’s call for the reform of a law that forbids defaming the royal family of Thailand.
The legislation, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, has allegedly been misused for political purposes, according to reviewers. Members of the Senate view themselves as defenders of conventional nationalist principles that consider the monarchy to be sacred.
Young voters found Move Forward’s plan to be very appealing, and it also aims to lessen the power of the government, which has carried out more than a hundred coups since Thailand was granted constitutional monarchy in 1932, as well as large-scale monopolies.
Pita received several complaints from the state watchdog claiming that the activity violated the constitution after being denied a second bid. Private residents and politicians from Pita’s group are among the plaintiffs.
Parliament delayed the vote when the case was brought before the court next month, but it was rescheduled days later even though the judge had not yet rendered a decision.