Leading candidate Pita Limjaroenrat was the only candidate; his party had already won the parliamentary elections by a wide margin. But now he did not have a majority of votes in Parliament.
In the eagerly awaited election of Thailand’s new prime minister, the leading pro-democracy candidate Pita Limjaroenrat failed to win the required simple majority of votes in parliament. The 42-year-old politician from the progressive opposition Move Forward party was the sole candidate. His party clearly won parliamentary elections in May and later formed an eight-party coalition – but its votes were not enough.
The background is that the powerful military, who have been in power until now, changed the constitution in their favor after the 2014 coup. newly elected, 250 unelected senators nominated by the military also choose the prime minister. Until recently, it was unclear how many senators would vote for the Harvard graduate.
Voting is scheduled to take place again next Wednesday. According to the media, another candidate could also be nominated as Pita – or Pita will be instituted again, but observers would have to make concessions to their opponents. On Thursday, Pita stated that he had no intention of giving up.
Numerous opposition supporters gathered outside Parliament to watch the vote. Protests are feared. The police set up a non-protest zone around the Parliament building. (APA)