Thailand’s prime ministerial frontrunner, Pita Limjaroenrat, is facing an investigation into whether he was qualified to run in last month’s election due to his ownership of shares in a media firm. The Election Commission will investigate whether Pita was knowingly unfit to register as a parliamentary candidate because of his ownership of shares in ITV, a television station that has not broadcast since 2007. Pita inherited the shares from his father and claims they have since been transferred. However, if found in violation, he could face disqualification, up to 10 years in jail, and 20 years banned from politics.
Pita is the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, which won a surprising election victory against Thailand’s military-backed establishment. However, he has faced multiple complaints from rivals, three of which the poll body has dismissed for late submission, while four others against the party have been thrown out. The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties thumped conservative opponents allied with the military in a resounding rejection of nearly nine years of government led or backed by the army since its 2014 coup. They have formed an alliance with six smaller parties, but Pita’s bid to be prime minister and form the government is expected to face resistance in a conservative-leaning Senate that was appointed under the military.
Move Forward’s anti-establishment agenda has put the party at odds with some influential, conservative business interests and institutions. The party won huge support among the youth and in the capital Bangkok with a platform of institutional change, including reducing the army’s political role, undoing monopolies, and reviewing a controversial law against insulting the monarchy. The party is confident that the allegations against Pita do not have sufficient evidence.
The Election Commission has set up an investigatory committee to investigate further. “There is sufficient information and evidence to warrant further investigation into whether Mr Pita is qualified to run in the election,” Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong told the AFP news agency. A bicameral vote on a prime minister is expected by August, with weeks of uncertainty ahead.
H2: Pita’s Ownership of Shares in a Media Firm
Pita Limjaroenrat is facing an investigation into whether he was qualified to run in last month’s election due to his ownership of shares in a media firm. Pita inherited the shares in the ITV television station from his father, which has not broadcast since 2007. He claims the shares in the firm have since been transferred. However, under election rules, ownership of shares in a media firm is prohibited for parliamentary candidates.
The Election Commission will investigate whether Pita was knowingly unfit to register as a parliamentary candidate because of his ownership of shares in ITV. If found in violation, he could face disqualification, up to 10 years in jail, and 20 years banned from politics. The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties thumped conservative opponents allied with the military in a resounding rejection of nearly nine years of government led or backed by the army since its 2014 coup.
H2: Move Forward Party’s Anti-Establishment Agenda
Move Forward’s anti-establishment agenda has put the party at odds with some influential, conservative business interests and institutions. The party won huge support among the youth and in the capital Bangkok with a platform of institutional change, including reducing the army’s political role, undoing monopolies, and reviewing a controversial law against insulting the monarchy.
The party’s victory against Thailand’s military-backed establishment was surprising, and they have formed an alliance with six smaller parties. However, Pita’s bid to be prime minister and form the government is expected to face resistance in a conservative-leaning Senate that was appointed under the military. A bicameral vote on a prime minister is expected by August, with weeks of uncertainty ahead.
H2: Election Commission’s Investigation
The Election Commission has set up an investigatory committee to investigate further into whether Pita Limjaroenrat was qualified to run in last month’s election. “There is sufficient information and evidence to warrant further investigation into whether Mr Pita is qualified to run in the election,” Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong told the AFP news agency.
Pita has faced multiple complaints from rivals, three of which the poll body has dismissed for late submission, while four others against the party have been thrown out. The party is confident that the allegations against Pita do not have sufficient evidence. However, if found in violation, he could face disqualification, up to 10 years in jail, and 20 years banned from politics.
H2: Uncertainty Ahead
A bicameral vote on a prime minister is expected by August, with weeks of uncertainty ahead. Pita’s bid to be prime minister and form the government is expected to face resistance in a conservative-leaning Senate that was appointed under the military. Move Forward’s anti-establishment agenda has put the party at odds with some influential, conservative business interests and institutions.
The party won huge support among the youth and in the capital Bangkok with a platform of institutional change, including reducing the army’s political role, undoing monopolies, and reviewing a controversial law against insulting the monarchy. The party is confident that the allegations against Pita do not have sufficient evidence. However, the Election Commission’s investigation could lead to his disqualification and a ban from politics.