The opportunity to find a winning lane is rapidly vanishing for PM-hopeful Pita Limjareonrat.
The 8-party Move Forward-led coalition that is currently trying to form a government has re-submitted Pita Limjaroenrat’s name for PM. A second attempt to elect Thailand’s 30th prime minister is taking place today.
However, short of a miracle, the MFP leader’s chances appear to be zero at this stage in the game. In response to Pheu Thai putting Pita’s name forward at a joint session of Parliament this morning, the United Thai Nation Party immediately jumped to oppose the move.
The Bangkok Post reports that the opposition party argued that a failed motion can’t be resubmitted at the same session. The Move Forward Party responded by insisting the submission was legal.
The Move Forward Party had a decisive win in the May 14 general election, with 151 House seats, while Pheu Thai got 141. They are both the main parties in the 8-party coalition.
There is much speculation as to what Pheu Thai’s next move will be, should Pita fail in his second bid for top job. According to the Bangkok Post, a number of prominent Pheu Thai members say the Move Forward leader cannot continue to be nominated indefinitely because a new government must be formed in order to start tackling the country’s issues.
Pheu Thai has already confirmed it will nominate Srettha Thavisin as a candidate for the PM role if Pita’s bid fails again today. Pita has already stated that if he doesn’t get at least 10% more votes than he did in the first round of voting last Thursday, he will step aside and make way for Pheu Thai to take the role.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
