BANGKOK: Pita Limjaroenrat, the thwarted prime minister candidate of Thailand, confronts a critical court ruling on Wednesday that could lead to his disqualification as a Member of Parliament (MP). Pita, at the helm of the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP), secured the most votes in the last election but was suspended as an MP in July, barring him from the premiership.
The Constitutional Court convened to assess whether Pita violated regulations prohibiting MPs from owning shares in media companies. Currently barred from legislative participation, the ruling, expected around 2:00 pm, may determine Pita’s political future.
Pita, undeterred, has expressed confidence in receiving justice and affirmed his intent to run for office again. The case centers on shares in the defunct ITV television station, inherited from his father, according to Pita, who denies any wrongdoing.
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Should the court rule against him, the Election Commission may refer Pita to the Supreme Court, where he could face up to 10 years in jail and a political ban under a new charge.
This legal battle echoes a 2019 case involving Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a popular progressive Thai politician disqualified as an MP for holding media shares. Thanathorn’s party, the predecessor of MFP, was dissolved, triggering pro-democracy protests.
Pita’s candidacy energized young and urban Thais during the 2023 election, challenging the political landscape dominated by military influence. MFP’s commitment to reform royal insult laws, tackle business monopolies, and curb military influence garnered unexpected support, placing them ahead of veteran political players.
Pheu Thai formed a coalition excluding MFP from government, reflecting the establishment’s response to the progressive party’s agenda. Pita, educated in Thailand and at Harvard, resigned as MFP leader in September, and the party faces another legal challenge next week related to its pledge to reform lese-majeste laws.
This unfolding political drama underscores the complex interplay between progressive forces and entrenched establishments in Thailand’s evolving democracy.
