Bangkok The rain has just stopped when the man who is alarming Thailand’s political establishment takes the stage. Pita Limjaroenrat is 42 years old, but looks much younger – especially when he stands in front of his followers, like last Sunday evening, with his shirt wide open, sleeves rolled up, sneakers and a smartwatch. “We demand a return to normality in Thai politics,” shouts the politician, who wants to bring down the military-controlled power apparatus in Bangkok. “We demand a decision in favor of democracy.”
The Harvard graduate and former start-up manager knows that a large part of Thai society is behind him: Two months ago, he won the parliamentary elections in Southeast Asia’s second largest economy with his progressive and pro-democracy party Move Forward. The result was a clear signal of the widespread desire for a change of government – nine years after the military coup in Thailand took power.
Nevertheless, Pita has to worry about the desired post of head of government. Immediately before the appointment of prime minister this Thursday, when he wants to seal the change of power, his opponents are increasing the pressure – with several legal and political hurdles that could mean not only the end of the charismatic hopefuls of the Thai democracy movement as a politician, but possibly also one prison sentence. In response, a wave of protests formed from disappointed Pita voters. Thailand is threatened with a new phase of political instability.
The threat to election winner Pita comes from several sides: on Wednesday, Thailand’s election commission, which is close to the military, recommended the immediate suspension of the politician and called on the constitutional court to consider disqualification. The background is a regulation according to which MPs are not allowed to own shares in media companies.
Pita’s opponents accuse him of having owned shares in a TV station in the meantime. However, the broadcaster had already ceased operations in 2007 and is therefore no longer a media company from Pita’s point of view. The shares that the politician received from his father’s estate are as good as worthless.
Allegations of the fall of the monarchy are in the room
Nevertheless, Pita is accused of running for political office, even though he knew he wasn’t entitled to do so. This could also be considered a criminal offense with a sentence of up to three years imprisonment. Pita’s party accused the electoral commission of abusing its power. Prominent democracy activists called for a protest rally in Bangkok on Wednesday evening.
Supporters of the Move Forward party protest in Bangkok on Wednesday.
(Photo: AP)
The constitutional court, which in the past has regularly ruled in favor of the conservative forces surrounding the military, also accepted another case against Pita and Move Forward on Wednesday. This is about a core of the party’s promises of reform. She wants to relax the extremely strict lèse-majesté law, which is often used against political activists.
From the point of view of the previous rulers, this is a breach of taboo. For a long time, the royal family was considered untouchable in Thailand. In 2020, however, there were mass protests demanding reform of the monarchy.
The government cracked down on it. The complaint before the constitutional court now accuses Move Forward of wanting to “overthrow the democratic system of government with the king as head of state”.
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Pita also rejects this accusation and wants to face the planned prime ministerial election regardless of the legal proceedings. But although he has a comfortable majority with his eight-party coalition, the former top manager of the Southeast Asian taxi service Grab is facing an hurdle that is difficult to overcome: According to the constitution used by the former military government, the second chamber of parliament, the Senate, also has one right to have a say in the appointment. Its members were not elected, but determined by the junta – they are therefore attributed to the opposing political camp.
Thailand’s prime minister retires from politics:
(Photo: dpa)
Should the senators refuse Pita’s approval, Thailand’s politics could face a political standstill for weeks or even months. There are currently no other prime ministerial candidates who could achieve a majority. Incumbent Prayut Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup and is now an executive, announced his retirement from politics on Tuesday.
At his last major rally last Sunday, Pita tried to spread optimism despite the immense pressure among his supporters: “We’ve come too far to lose,” he called into his microphone and promised: “If you don’t give up, you will.” I don’t give up either.”
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