In Thailand, parliament has rejected the candidacy of would-be prime minister Pita Limjaroenrat, despite winning with his reformist Move Forward party. Limjaroenrat promises however that he will continue to fight.
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Although the scrutiny continues in the Thai Parliament after the vote on Thursday, July 13, it is impossible for Pita Limjaroenrat to reach the 375 votes required to be appointed prime minister.
This is due to the opposition or abstention of the senators appointed by the military junta and suspicious of his proposal to reform article 112 of the penal code, which punishes expressions of lèse majesté, that is, insults against any member, with up to 15 years in prison. of the monarchy.
His progressive movement, Move Forward, emerged victorious in the May elections after defending the revision of these laws.
Now he faces the traditional parties, the Senate, and the Electoral Commission that on Tuesday recommended suspending Limjaroenrat as parliamentarian for alleged irregularities.
read alsoThai election commission calls for suspension of election winner Pita Limjaroenrat
2020 demonstrations
In addition, the Constitutional Court accepted a case against him and his party for allegedly wanting to “overthrow” the monarchy.
Limjaroenrat is equally concerned about his plans to mess with the powerful business monopolies that dominate the kingdom.
The May election was the first since huge 2020 pro-democracy rallies in Bangkok, which called for reform of draconian lèse majesté laws. The Limjaroenrat coalition was the only party that promised to address this issue during the campaign.