Thailand’s Move Forward opposition named a brand new leader on Saturday after Pita Limjaroenrat, who led the party to a shocking election victory in May, failed in his bid to turn into prime minister.
Chaithawat Tulathon, a former editor of a political magazine, will lead Move Forward, which won probably the most seats in parliament on a wave of youth and concrete support for its anti-system policies.
The Progressive Party will lead the opposition after conservative lawmakers and an unelected Senate blocked its attempts to form a government.
Pita stepped down as party leader earlier this month amid a series of legal and legislative challenges that many see as a part of a pattern adopted by the pro-military and royalist establishment to undermine a brand new generation of leaders.
He was suspended from parliament in July over allegations that he owned shares in a media company, making him unfit to carry office. Pita denies this.
The Thai court’s decision dashes Move Forward’s hopes for a number one government
The Thai court’s decision dashes Move Forward’s hopes for a number one government
Chaithawat, who was previously the party’s general secretary, called the move a “temporary restructuring” while Pita clears his name. Chaitawat said Pita would proceed to function an adviser to the party and manage its activities outside parliament.
Earlier this week, a court banned Pannika Wanich, an influential supporter of the Move Forward party, from politics for all times for a photograph she posted on the Internet greater than ten years ago, which was considered disrespectful to the monarchy and a violation of ethical standards.
Move Forward has pledged to alter the strict royal insult law, which carries a sentence of as much as 15 years in prison for allegedly disrespecting the monarchy.
The country’s structure, drafted under the junta, “has turn into a robust tool to arbitrarily attack outspoken politicians,” Sunai Phasuk, senior Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters.
“This could easily destroy members of the opposition who comment on calls for reform,” he added.
