Thai court to decide case seeking PM-hopeful Pita's disqualification | Inquirer News

Thai court to decide case seeking PM-hopeful Pita’s disqualification

/ 01:45 PM July 12, 2023

Pita

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat greets supporters during a rally to thank voters ahead of the vote for a new prime minister on July 13, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 9, 2023. REUTERS

BANGKOK —  Thailand’s poll body will refer to the Constitutional Court a case over whether prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat should be disqualified as a lawmaker over a shareholding issue, local media and an election commission source said on Wednesday.

The referral of the case was reported by three media outlets. A source from the commission told Reuters it would request that Pita, the leader of the election-winning Move Forward Party, be suspended as a parliamentarian pending the court’s ruling.

Article continues after this advertisement

The source declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to media.

FEATURED STORIES

The referral comes a day before Pita is due to contest a vote of on the premiership in the bicameral parliament. He has the backing of eight parties in an alliance seeking to form the next government.

The progressive Move Forward and another opposition party, Pheu Thai, trounced rivals allied with the army in the May 14 election, in what was widely seen as an overwhelming rejection of nine years of government led or backed by the military.

Article continues after this advertisement

The poll body was investigating a complaint alleging Pita’s ownership of shares in media firm iTV at the time of his registration made him ineligible to stand in the May 14 election.

Article continues after this advertisement

Pita has maintained iTV has not been an active mass media organization for many years.

Article continues after this advertisement

Move Forward in a statement accused the election commission of rushing its referral of the case and said Pita should have been given a chance to respond and refute the allegations.

RELATED STORIES

Thai PM frontrunner rallies supporters ahead of parliamentary vote

Thai parliament to vote for prime minister on July 13

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Politics, Thailand

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.