Thailand continues to postpone the election of Prime Minister

Thailand's parliament has postponed the vote to elect a new prime minister, scheduled for August 4. The decision came shortly after the Constitutional Court said it could not rule on complaints about a resolution in which parliament rejected the re-nomination of the leader of the Progressive Party (MFP) for prime minister.

Overview of the Thai Parliament session on July 19, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)

Thai media on August 3 quoted the Speaker of the Thai National Assembly, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, as saying that the Thai Constitutional Court has yet to issue a ruling on the resolution passed by the Thai National Assembly on July 19, in which the National Assembly rejected the re-nomination of Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the MFP, for the position of Prime Minister. Therefore, the vote to elect the Prime Minister continues to be postponed until the official ruling of the Constitutional Court.

Earlier, also on August 3, the Thai Constitutional Court announced that it needed more time to thoroughly review complaints related to the Thai National Assembly's July 19 resolution. The Constitutional Court asked staff to continue studying related information and is expected to issue a verdict on August 16.

In the general election in May, the MFP won 151 seats in the House of Representatives, while Pheu Thai came in second with 141. The MFP and Pheu Thai are in a coalition with six other parties in an effort to form a new government in Thailand.

However, MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who was nominated by the eight-party alliance, has twice failed to receive enough support from the National Assembly to become Thailand's next prime minister.

In the joint session of the Thai Senate and House of Representatives on July 13, Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat did not receive enough votes to be elected.

On July 19, Mr. Pita continued to receive the nomination for the position of Prime Minister, but was immediately rejected by the Thai National Assembly. The Thai National Assembly cited a rule prohibiting the re-submission of unsuccessful motions in the same session of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, on August 2, Pheu Thai announced the formation of a new coalition without the MFP and will nominate Mr. Srettha Thavisin for the position of Prime Minister.

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