Thai court rejects petition against election winner blockade

Bangkok, Aug 16 (EFE).- Thailand’s Constitutional Court rejected a petition Wednesday of the party that won the elections against the blocking of candidate Pita Limjaroenrat in the parliament’s vote for prime minister.

The decision is a setback for the reformist Move Forward party, the formation with the most seats in the lower house, but opens the possibility for the legislature to vote for the prime minister anew, which could happen between this week and next .

House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor said Wednesday after hearing the court’s decision that he would consult with legal advisers to prepare for the prime minister’s vote.

The claim rejected by court deals with the second candidacy attempt presented by Move Forward on July 19, which was not voted on after being rejected by parliament with the support of unelected senators.

As a result of this blockade, Move Forward ceded in late July the formation’s responsibility to form a government to its partner and runner-up Pheu Thai, which has formed another coalition without the victors.

Thailand is in a political deadlock after elections on May 14 following Move Forward’s unexpected victory, as the progressive party seeks to remove the military from power, having governed for almost a decade, and reduce the power of the monarchy.

This formation and seven other parties created a coalition of pro-democratic parties with a large majority among the 500 members of the elected lower house.

However, the coalition failed to form a government after Pita’s candidacy was blocked on two occasions due to opposition from the upper house, whose 250 members were elected by the former military junta.

Both houses participate in the selection of the prime minister and the candidate must achieve an absolute majority.

Phue Thai plans to nominate construction magnate Srettha Thavisin, who has opposed reforming the royal defamation law, the Move Forward proposal that has aroused the most opposition among senators, as its prime ministerial candidate. EFE

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