BANGKOK— Thailand’s temporary Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appealed for calm on Thursday after the military and pro-royalist MPs blocked a popular progressive candidate’s ambition to succeed him.
Pita Limjaroenrat’s party won the most seats in the May elections, but he was abruptly removed from parliament on Wednesday, which then refused to grant him a second vote to become the kingdom’s next prime minister.
Over 1,000 people gathered that night for a peaceful protest to voice their outrage at the Harvard-educated liberal leader’s failed campaign for power.
Thailand is no stranger to political instability, and Prayut, who took power in a 2014 coup, “understood” Pita’s followers, according to his office.
Nevertheless, according to his spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek, he also urged the public to “bring Thailand forward in a democratic way alongside the monarchy.”
“Opinions and political activities must be peaceful, free of violence, and without harming the economy, trade, and investment.”
Pita’s Move Forward Party (MFP) has ridden high on the support of young and urban Thais dissatisfied with the army’s control for nearly a decade, but Thailand’s elite is adamantly opposed to its programme.
The party has refused to back down from its promises to modify the kingdom’s draconian royal defamation law, which allows convicted detractors of the monarchy to face up to 15 years in prison.
Its reformist agenda also threatens family-owned corporate monopolies, which play a disproportionate role in the kingdom’s economy.
Pita was suspended from parliament by the Constitutional Court after it chose to pursue a case that could result in his disqualification as an MP for owning shares in a media company.
The Thai constitution forbids lawmakers from doing so, notwithstanding the fact that the television station in question has not broadcast since 2007.
‘Till we meet again,’ she says.
Pita remained defiant as he walked out of parliament on Wednesday, pumping his fist to supporters and said goodbye “until we meet again.”
Yet he has also promised to step down to allow another party to form a government now that his second bid at the premiership has failed by dozens of votes.
The coalition backing him may align with property tycoon Srettha Thavisin, potentially relegating the MFP to opposition status.
“The results yesterday were disheartening, but we must move forward,” Srettha told reporters after a meeting of his Pheu Thai party on Thursday.
Pheu Thai is seen as a vehicle for the Shinawatra political clan, which includes two former prime ministers who were deposed by military coups in 2006 and 2014.
Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, a former army leader who served as Prayut’s deputy after 2014, has also been mentioned as a prospective PM or minister in a Pheu Thai-led administration.
Yet, any decision by the party to create a government with army-aligned members would almost certainly cause a public backlash, according to political expert Napisa Waitoolkiat.
“A lot of people, progressive voters or pro-democracy voters, will remember this moment,” she said.
The election in May was the first since massive protests in 2020 brought most of Bangkok to a halt, with thousands of mostly young Thais demanding political reforms.
Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, a former protest leader, warned AFP that establishment attempts to remove Him from office might ignite “much larger” protests.
“People will not tolerate it,” she added.