Thailand: new battle for progressive pita, blocked at the gate of power

The winner of Thailand’s legislative elections, progressive Pita Limjaroenrat is resubmitting his candidacy to become prime minister on Wednesday, a second attempt at a compromise fueled by opposition from senators loyal to the military and his legal troubles.

Caught in a cycle of repeated political crises for more than twenty years, Southeast Asia’s second economy is going through another round of tension between the generals in power and a younger generation eager for change.

Acclaimed for his breakaway program, under the banner of the party Move Forward, Pita Limjaroenrat embodied, at the age of 42, the renewal desired by Thais after nearly a decade of military dominance.

But champions of the alternative, backed by the majority coalition in the National Assembly, come up against senators appointed by the military who reprimand them for a program deemed too radical for the monarchy.

The context raises fears of new large-scale protests like those in 2020 to demand more democracy in a state with a political history of a dozen successful coups since 1932.

PITA, which was rejected for the first time by the bicameral parliament on Thursday, needs to rally about fifty additional senators (out of 250) to obtain the necessary majority. Only thirteen of them approved it on the first vote.

His chances of convincing enough members of the upper house are slim, according to analysts interviewed by AFP.

Some senators, offended by his plan to reform the lèse-majeste law, even think that Pita should not be allowed to appear under the rules that prevent Parliament from discussing the same motion twice during one session.

If there is a vote, the point will be debated before the vote. National Assembly Speaker Wan Muhammad Nur Matha opened the session at 9:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), according to parliamentary channel footage.

– Lèse-majesté in question –

At the moment, Move Forward, a beloved parliamentarian of the new generation, is the only declared candidate to become prime minister.

“We are still in discussions” to get more support for the vote, he assured on Monday.

In the event of a second defeat, he promised on Saturday he would back down in favor of the Pheu Thai party, the second force in the Hemicycle and a member of the pro-democracy coalition.

Businesswoman Shretha Thavisin (60), with a more conciliatory profile, is best positioned to take office, but the presence of Move Forward among her supporters could deter senators and thus lead them to cooperate with more conciliatory movements with the military.

Another scenario has emerged, promoting former putschist General Prawit Wongsuwan (77), an executive of the outgoing government, but his poor electoral results give him only limited legitimacy to form a government.

Political uncertainties, including court cases, threaten disqualification like the sword of Damocles hanging over Pita.

The election commission last week recommended that the lawmaker be suspended for his shares during the campaign in a television channel, which was in violation of Thai law.

The person concerned defended himself from any illegal maneuvering and pointed fingers at the hurried process of political nature.

According to Thai media, the Constitutional Court will consider the case on Wednesday.

In another case before the Constitutional Court, PITA and Move Forward have been accused of wanting to overthrow the monarchy.

His plan to reform the controversial lèse-majesté law, one of the strictest of its kind in the world, has drawn strong reactions from the conservative camp, which accuses him of undermining the kingdom’s traditional values.

– “Backfire” –

Thailand, where high inequalities persist, has one of the lowest growth rates in Southeast Asia, calling for major structural reforms.

Economic circles are concerned about prolonged instability in the situation, which could affect the vital tourism sector.

Police, barriers and even containers to block the streets… Faced with the risk of demonstrations, Parliament is surrounded by an important security apparatus.

If the party loses again in parliament, “there will be a reaction, that’s for sure. There have already been some demonstrations, Move Forward supporters are feeling cheated, robbed,” said political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak.

The kingdom’s ally the United States is also monitoring the situation.

“We believe this is an opportunity for Thailand to demonstrate its commitment to democracy,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Monday.