MFP leader named PM pick for 2nd vote
The eight-party prospective coalition has agreed to nominate Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister in the second round of voting set to take place tomorrow, amid growing doubts about his renomination.
Speaking after representatives from the eight parties met to discuss their next steps following his failure to secure enough support from parliament on July 13, Mr Pita said the bloc has agreed to nominate him once again.
He also insisted his renomination does not contravene any parliamentary regulation, as several senators have argued that doing so would be a violation of Article 41 of the House’s regulations. The issue will be discussed today at a meeting of senators and MP whips called by House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
Mr Pita said he expects to receive more votes from senators who had been absent in the first voting session. He also dismissed reports that the MFP had approached other parties to join its coalition.
The MFP leader admitted his stance on Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, is complicating his bid for the premiership, as many senators and some MPs are using it as an excuse not to back his nomination.
That said, he said he has no intention of backtracking on his campaign pledges just to secure the role of premier.
Mr Pita also said that he is ready to step aside if he fails to get the required support from parliament in the second round of voting.
When asked to elaborate on MFP’s plan to amend Section 272 of the charter to remove the senators’ power to co-select the prime minister, he said the move is an MFP initiative, not the coalition’s.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the seven coalition parties have agreed to give the MFP another chance and that, at this point, the bloc does not have a contingency plan if Mr Pita still fails.
Meanwhile, Senate whip Somchai Sawangkarn said he will inform parliament of Article 41, which prohibits a motion that has been rejected by parliament from being resubmitted in the same session.
“If another candidate is nominated, it’s considered a new motion,” he added.
Senator Seree Suwanpanont echoed Mr Somchai’s opinions, saying if Mr Pita is renominated for the prime minister’s post, it would lead to an extensive debate about the clause.
Mr Seree urged other political parties which have submitted their prime ministerial candidates to the Election Commission to nominate their candidates for consideration.
Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said yesterday the eight coalition parties had a decision to make because the MFP has made it clear that it would not back down on reforming the lese majeste law.
He called the MFP’s policy divisive and said under the current political circumstances, Pheu Thai should be allowed to form a coalition government without the MFP.
He said the social media campaign by MFP supporters to pressure senators to vote for Mr Pita would not change their minds, especially since many supporters have resorted to online bullying and harassment.
In a related development, political observer Ruangkrai Leekitwatthana yesterday lodged a petition with Mr Wan urging him to look at whether Mr Pita is qualified to be nominated as prime minister.
Mr Ruangkrai cited the EC’s decision to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on the MFP leader’s MP status. The EC found that Mr Pita held shares in iTV, a media company, at the time he registered his electoral candidacy, which is a violation of sections 101(6) and 98(3) of the constitution.
According to Mr Ruangkrai, the alleged violation would make Mr Pita ineligible to run as a prime ministerial candidate.
Speaking before the eight-party meeting, MFP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun said the party is still pinning its hopes on its bid to amend Section 272 of the charter if Mr Pita fails to secure enough support in the second round of voting tomorrow.
She said it would take only two to three weeks to know the result of MFP’s plan to amend Section 272. If these two efforts fail, the party would step aside and let Pheu Thai take the lead in forming a coalition, she said, adding the party would not go back on its word on the lese majeste law issue.