Pita, the leader of the Move Forward Party, is facing a crucial vote in Thailand’s parliament today. He seeks to become the country’s next prime minister. However, his chances of success are uncertain. Pita needs the support of at least 64 lawmakers from either the Senate or the House of Representatives to secure the premiership.
Pita has been a vocal critic of the military-backed government that ruled Thailand for several years. His election as prime minister would be seen as a major victory for the pro-democracy movement. Nonetheless, the establishment-aligned Senate is unlikely to support Pita. Furthermore, he may also struggle to win over enough lawmakers from the House of Representatives.
The vote in parliament is expected to be close. It is possible that no candidate will be able to secure the required majority. In that case, the country could be plunged into a political crisis.
Several key factors could affect the outcome of the vote. Firstly, the support of the Senate is crucial. The 250-member Senate, appointed by the military, is widely seen as being opposed to Pita. If the Senate does not support him, winning the premiership will be very difficult.
Secondly, Pita’s Move Forward Party won the most seats in the House of Representatives in the May 14 general election. However, they do not have a majority. Pita will need to win over the support of some lawmakers from other parties to secure the premiership.
Lastly, the role of the king is significant. If no candidate is able to secure a majority in parliament, the king of Thailand has the power to appoint a prime minister. It remains unclear how the king will react if Pita is unable to win the vote. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that he could intervene to prevent a political crisis.
