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☆ Thailand’s lower house passes bill to legalize same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Kocha Olarn | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Thailand’s House of Representatives voted to legalize same-sex marriage on Wednesday, bringing the Southeast Asian nation a step closer to becoming the third territory in Asia to guarantee equal marital rights. The lower house of parliament passed the bill following a third and final reading, with 400 representatives voting in favor. It would also make the country only the third place in Asia to allow for marriage equality after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 and Nepal in 2023. Previous attempts to legalize marriage equality over the past decade have stalled. Nonetheless Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, of the Pheu Thai Party, had also promised to bring the marriage equality bill to parliament.

Persons: CNN —, Pita Limjaroenrat, Srettha Thavisin Organizations: CNN, CNN — Thailand’s, Party, Thailand’s, Pheu Thai Party Locations: Asia, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Nepal

BANGKOK (AP) — Two years after Thailand made pot legal, the country appears set to crack down on its freewheeling drug market with a ban on “recreational” use. The Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said last week that he had recommended a draft bill to the Cabinet that would ban recreational cannabis use while allowing medical. The party’s stronghold is in the poor Northeast, where it promised farmers cannabis would be a new cash crop. Anutin had promised that cannabis would be allowed only for medical use, but in practice the market was nearly unregulated. But, she said, widespread recreational cannabis has created social problems such as youth drug abuse.

Persons: Chonlanan Srikaew, Anutin Charnvirakul, Anutin, Bhumjaithai —, Kalyapat, Kitty ” Chopaka, ” Rattapon Sanrak, Thailand’s, “ Sellers …, ” Organizations: Health, Bhumjaithai Party, Narcotics, Health Ministry, Party, ” Cannabis Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Asia, Bangkok

☆ Forward Party's Andrew Yang: Voters sense 'enormous drop off' between Pres. Biden and everyone else
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailForward Party's Andrew Yang: Voters sense 'enormous drop off' between Pres. Biden and everyone elseHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC.

Persons: Andrew Yang, Pres . Biden, Brian Sullivan, “ Organizations: CNBC

☆ Biden is calling out corporations because 'his administration is underwater with independents,' Andrew Yang says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Taylor Craig | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Biden was sitting beside common snacks like Oreos, Doritos and Goldfish during the 48-second clip, posted to X. Shrinkflation happens when consumer products get smaller in weight, size or quantity while their prices stay the same or even increase. "That's a message that the average consumer will nod their heads and say 'sure, I hate it when that happens,'" former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said. "They're gonna have to keep making this case around the country because the Biden administration is underwater with independents who are going to decide this November's election," Yang, now the co-chair of the Forward Party said. "They're going to be trying anything they can to say, at least, 'we're on your side.'"

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, I've, Andrew Yang, that's, Lael Brainard, Yang Organizations: Super, Sunday, National Economic, Forward Party

☆ New Blow for Thai Election Winners as Lawyer Launches Dissolution Bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The constitution states the king is enshrined to be held in a position of "revered worship". The election commission will weigh the merits of the complaint and whether to send it to the Constitutional Court to decide on party dissolution, which could see its executives banned from politics for a decade. Its predecessor, Future Forward, had championed similar policies and was disbanded in 2020 for violating campaign funding rules. "The election commission must take into account (yesterday's) case ... the commission must carry out its duties and cannot remain idle," Ruangkrai told reporters. Move Forward has rejected accusations that it sought to undermine the monarchy and says it wanted to prevent the wrongful use of the royal insults law.

Persons: Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, Ruangkrai, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panu, Martin Petty Organizations: Thailand's, Party, Constitutional Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand

☆ Thai Court Rules That Opposition Party Proposal Violated the Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | Muktita Suhartono | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But on Wednesday the Move Forward Party and its push for change were dealt a severe blow. Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that the party’s proposal to scale back the royal defamation law violated the Constitution because it was an attempt to overthrow the monarchy. The verdict, in effect, lays out explicitly that the royal defamation law is sacrosanct for Thailand’s conservative establishment, a nexus of royalists, military officials and wealthy elites. Wednesday’s ruling leaves Move Forward vulnerable to more legal challenges, which could pave the way for its eventual disbandment. It could also set the stage for a showdown between Thailand’s progressive opposition and the establishment.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat Organizations: Party Locations: Thailand

☆ Thai court orders election-winning party to end its royal reform campaign in blow to voters who backed change
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“This would effectively mean that the lese majeste law would become untouchable,” said Munin Pongsapan, associate professor at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law. Sentences for those convicted under lese majeste can be decades long and hundreds of people have been prosecuted in recent years. Anyone – including ordinary citizens – can bring lese majeste charges on behalf of the king, even if they are not directly involved with the case. Protesters demanding royal reform wanted to abolish the lese majeste law, and to ensure the king is answerable to the constitution, with protesters scrutinizing Vajiralongkorn’s immense wealth and power. Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, came out of nowhere to win the third most seats in the 2019 election.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, lese, ”, Munin Pongsapan, “, Munin, Parit Wacharasindhu, Stringer, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, ’, Thitinan, ” Thitinan, lese majeste, Thais, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Anusak, turfing, Pita, Wednesday’s Organizations: Thailand CNN, Wednesday, Party, University’s, of Law, CNN, Anadolu Agency, Chulalongkorn University, Forward Party, Legal, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Lawmakers Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai

☆ Popular Thai Opposition Politician Wins Election Law Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pita Limjaroenrat, the popular politician who was blocked from becoming Thailand’s prime minister, cleared a legal hurdle on Wednesday after the country’s Constitutional Court found that he was not guilty of violating election law, allowing him to be reinstated as a lawmaker. A decision against them could lead to a ban on Mr. Pita from politics and the dissolution of the party. Mr. Pita and his party stunned Thailand’s royalist-military establishment last year by winning first place in the general election, as voters sent a clear signal that they wanted an end to nearly a decade of military rule. But the establishment prevailed in preventing Mr. Pita from becoming the prime minister, using legal maneuvers that his supporters say were part of a broader effort to roll back the results of the election. On Wednesday afternoon, after the verdict was read out, supporters of Mr. Pita who had gathered outside the Constitutional Court broke out in cheers and chanted repeatedly: “Prime Minister Pita!”

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Thailand’s Organizations: Party, Constitutional, “ Locations: —, Thai

☆ Pita Limjaroenrat: Thai court dismisses media shares case against popular progressive politician
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed a case against Pita Limjaroenrat, 43, that alleged he violated election rules by running for office while holding shares in a media company – the long-defunct broadcaster iTV. Thai law bans members of parliament from owning or holding shares in media companies. Ahead of Wednesday’s verdict, Pita expressed confidence outside the court in Bangkok. Move Forward won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote in the May election. And most recently, Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, won the third most seats in the 2019 election.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, ”, “, Thais, turfing, Srettha Thavisin, Samak Sundaravej, Thaksin Shinawatra, – Organizations: Thailand CNN, Constitutional, iTV, Party, Thai Stock Exchange, CNN, National Institute of Development Administration, Reuters, Lawmakers, Forward Party Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, “

☆ Thailand sentences man to record 50 years in prison for insulting the monarchy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sentences for those convicted under Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, or lese majeste law, can be decades long and hundreds of people have been prosecuted in recent years. A criminal court found him guilty of 14 violations of lese majeste and sentenced him in January 2023 to 28 years. At least 262 people have been charged with lese majeste during that time, the group added. Thailand’s lese majeste prosecutions continue despite a civilian government now being in power, following almost a decade of military-backed rule. The verdicts include a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether Pita sought to overthrow the monarchy through his election campaign to amend the lese majeste law.

Persons: Mongkol Thirakhot, Chiang Rai, ”, majeste, TLHR, Mongkol, Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, Akarachai, Anchan Preelert, lese, Arnon Nampa, Arnon, ” TLRH, Thailand’s lese, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita Organizations: CNN, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Facebook, Supreme, UN Human Rights, YouTube, Forward, Constitutional Locations: Chiang Rai, Thailand, TLHR, Thai

☆ ‘What Have We Become?’ How Congress Came To Be So Boorish
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Kaia Hubbard | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

They’re members of Congress. “I mean, straighten up here.”Even before this week, a number of vulgar refrains, heated exchanges and a near physical altercation punctuated this Congress after festering in recent years. What have we become?’”Indeed, this Congress seemed to kick off with drama baked in. The picture of this Congress is a stark departure from expectations for lawmakers in recent history. “For a lot of members, Congress is not a legislature so much as it is a reality television show about a legislature,” C. Lawrence Evans, a professor of government at the College of William & Mary, says.

Persons: –, “, ” Sen, Mazie, Elizabeth Warren, There's, ” Dan Lamb, it's, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, Hunter Biden, Lauren Boebert, Adam Schiff, Greene, Tim Burchett, McCarthy, Jared Moskowitz, James Comer, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Barack Obama, Lindsey Williams Drath, ” Drath, ”, Drath, Lawrence Evans, College of William & Mary, “ It's, they’re, Mullin, ” Evans, Mike Johnson, Gaetz, Cynthia Lummis, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Sanders, Charles Sumner Organizations: Hawaii Democrat, Cornell University, Georgia Republican, Colorado Republican, House Republicans, California Democrat, New, New York Democrat, South Carolina Republican, Forward Party, Republican Party, College of William &, Wyoming Republican, Trump, Capitol Locations: Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Colorado, California, New York, Wyoming, Vermont, America, legislating, Arizona

☆ Thailand's new prime minister boosts optimism, but his populist policies pose fiscal risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Srettha Thavisin, Thailand's prime minister, arrives at the Thai Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Srettha, Pheu Thai's choice for leader, was appointed prime minister on Aug. 22 — the same day that former prime minister and Pheu Thai founder Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand after 15 years of self-exile. watch nowThe prime minister also pledged to relieve the country's debt problems. "PM Srettha will slowly implement Pheu Thai's populist economic policies as he has to meet public expectations," said Dusadeeisariyakul. Other experts warned against overthinking the fiscal damage since many of Pheu Thai's populist pledges may not materialize.

Persons: Srettha, Valeria Mongelli, Srettha Thavisin, Pheu, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin's, Pimrapaat Dusadeeisariyakul, Friedrich Naumann, Thaksin, Stratfor, Fitch, Teerasak Siripant Organizations: Thai, Bloomberg, Getty, Pracharat Party, United Thai Nation Party, Bhumjathai Party, Friedrich, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Fitch, Bower Group Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai

☆ Thailand's Opposition Move Forward Party Names New Leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition Move Forward named a new leader on Saturday after Pita Limjaroenrat, who led the party to a stunning election victory in May, was thwarted in his efforts to become premier. 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 host of legal and legislative challenges that many see as part of a pattern by the pro-military and royalist establishment to diminish a new generation of leaders. Pita would continue on as advisor to the party and manage activities outside parliament, Chaitawat said. "This could easily wipe out members of the opposition, who give commentary calling for reforms," he added.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Chaithawat, Pita, Chaitawat, Pannika, penalises, Phasuk, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panu, Kanupriya Kapoor, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Human Rights Watch, Reuters Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand

☆ Thailand's opposition Move Forward Party names new leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition Move Forward named a new leader on Saturday after Pita Limjaroenrat, who led the party to a stunning election victory in May, was thwarted in his efforts to become premier. 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 host of legal and legislative challenges that many see as part of a pattern by the pro-military and royalist establishment to diminish a new generation of leaders. Pita would continue on as advisor to the party and manage activities outside parliament, Chaitawat said. "This could easily wipe out members of the opposition, who give commentary calling for reforms," he added.

☆ Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse: Thai King's son signals willingness to talk about lese majeste as he attends exhibition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, the King’s second-oldest son, who lives in New York, confirmed that he went to see the exhibition on his official Facebook page Monday. “The King can do wrong.”Nonetheless lese majeste prosecutions continued in the last decade of his reign, and increased dramatically when the military seized power in a 2014 coup. An unprecedented demand was royal reform to ensure the King is answerable to the constitution and amendments to the royal insult law. A political toolFor years, human rights organizations and free speech campaigners have said lese majeste has been used as a political tool to silence critics of the Thai government. At least 253 people have been charged with lese majeste during that time, the group said.

Persons: Thailand’s, Maha Vajiralongkorn, King, LeRoy Neiman, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, lese, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, “, ’, ” Vacharaesorn, Vacharaesorn, Thais –, Thais, ”, Pavin, ” Pavin, King Vajiralongkorn, Bhumibol Adulyadej, Bhumibol, Srettha Thavisin, lese majeste, majeste, King Bhumibol, Prayut Chan Organizations: CNN, LeRoy, New York’s Columbia University, Kyoto University’s Center, Southeast Asian Studies, Elections, Thai, YouTube, Facebook, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Thai Prime Locations: New York, Thailand, Thai, Local

☆ Thailand's Pita quits as leader of election-winning party after failed PM bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts during a rally to thank voters ahead of the vote for a new prime minister on July 13, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat resigned on Friday as leader of the progressive Move Forward party, months after delivering a stunning electoral victory on an anti-establishment reform agenda that threatened to upend the political status quo. "I want to allow other lawmakers to take on this role of opposition leader," Pita said on Facebook. "But in any position, I will work with Move Forward and the people to the fullest of my abilities." The charismatic Pita had led pre-election opinion polls as Thailand's top choice for prime minister but faced a host of legal and legislative challenges that he maintains were orchestrated to keep him from power.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Athit, Pita, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: Forward, REUTERS, Rights, Harvard, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed a new cabinet, including real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the country’s new prime minister and finance minister, according to a Royal gazette published on Saturday, months after the May elections. Srettha's Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, will oversee defence, transport, commerce, health and the foreign ministry portfolios. The second-place Pheu Thai broke off an alliance with Move Forward and brought on rival parties aligned with army generals that ousted Shinawatra-linked parties in 2006 and 2014 coups. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The new cabinet has Pheu Thai controlling ministries overseeing the economy ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha's, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ Thailand has a new leader but it's not the one people voted for. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Protesters walk through smoke after setting fire to mock corpses during a protest at Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on August 2, 2023. It formed a coalition with other like-minded parties, including runners up Pheu Thai. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flanked by his son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. “I want to be a prime minister who can make the difference,” Srettha previously told CNN. But with an 11-member coalition that includes bitter rivals, it’s unclear whether Srettha and Pheu Thai will be able to govern effectively.

Persons: staved, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Thais, Valeria Mongelli, Hans Lucas, lese, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, Pheu Thai, Thaksin’s, Shinatwatra, ”, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Panthongtae Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Athit, ” Thitinan, Yingluck Shinawatra, “, Strettha, Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn, Srettha, Prayut Chan Organizations: CNN, Party, Pheu Thai Party, Reuters, Pheu, Senate, Chulalongkorn University . Former Thai, Thaksin, Manchester City Football Club, Thai, Facebook, Thai Corrections Department, Procter & Gamble, Bangkok Post Locations: Thailand, Bangkok, Senate, Thai, Pheu Thai, Don Mueang

☆ Srettha Thavisin elected Thailand's new prime minister after months of political deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Pheu Thai Party's Srettha Thavisin will become Thailand's prime minister after clinching parliamentary support in a Tuesday vote. Srettha, a real estate mogul who entered the Thai political landscape mere months ago under the Pheu Thai's mantle, required 375 votes to become premier and set up Bangkok's next government. He won 482, his party said in a Google-translated Facebook post on Tuesday. Thailand has been administered by a caretaker government since March, with its parliament in deadlock. Pheu Thai initially supported the party, but progressed with its own bid for power after Move Forward's failure to gain support.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Prayuth Chan, Pheu Organizations: National Economic, Social Development, Assembly Locations: Thailand

The former prime minister then left on a police truck, headed to the Supreme Court. The Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party, which came second in the May election, will nominate its choice for the country’s next leader Tuesday: real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while flanked by his son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand on August 22. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said in a statement Monday that the coalition would not include Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the election. In 2006, Thaksin was ousted and, facing a potential prison sentence over corruption charges, went into self-imposed exile.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Thaksin’s, Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn, Srettha Thavisin, Palang Pracharath, Prayut Chan, Yingluck, Panthongtae Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Athit, Thais, Cholnan Srikaew, –, ”, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Prayut, “, “ We’ve, ” Thitinan Organizations: CNN, Manchester City Football Club, UN, Mueang International, Supreme, Thaksin, United Thai Nation Party, Thai, Thai Party, Party, National Institute of Development Administration, Reuters, Facebook, Institute of Security, Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Forward Party Locations: Thailand, New York, Singapore, Bangkok’s, Thai, Don Mueang, Bangkok

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra looks on as he speaks to Reuters during an interview in Singapore February 23, 2016. Also scheduled for Tuesday is another parliamentary vote for prime minister, to be nominated by the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party. Some analysts said Thaksin's return suggests Pheu Thai has reached a deal with political parties on forming a government after gaining support from military-backed parties. Pheu Thai, set to nominate real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, needs the support of more than half the bicameral legislature, including the military-appointed Senate. The party on Thursday gained support from a rival military-backed party after a lawmaker from another military-backed party said they would support Pheu Thai in overcoming the impasse.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Edgar Su, Thaksin, Thaksin's, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Surachate Hakparn, Thanaporn Sriyakul, Srettha Thavisin, Orathai Sriring, William Mallard Organizations: Thai, Reuters, REUTERS, BANGKOK, Thaksin, Thai Party, Political Science Association of Kasetsart University, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Thailand, Muang, Pheu

☆ Pheu Thai gain backing from rival party to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Thailand's Pheu Thai Party on Thursday gained support from a rival military-backed party, potentially boosting it in its bid to form a government ahead of a prime ministerial vote in parliament next week. The United Thai Nation Party or UTN, the party that fielded former coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as its prime ministerial candidate in the May election, said on Thursday that it will help Pheu Thai form a government. "United Thai Party will join the government with Pheu Thai," UTN spokesman Akaradej Wongpitakroj told reporters on Thursday. Move Forward's former ally, the second-placed Pheu Thai party, earlier this month took over efforts to form a government. Previous Pheu Thai governments, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, were ousted by military coups in 2006 and 2014, when the party's interests clashed with the country's powerful old money elites and royalist military.

Persons: Prayuth Chan, Prayuth, Akaradej Wongpitakroj, Srettha Thavisin, Panu, Toby Chopra, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Thai Party, United Thai Nation Party, United Thai Party, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, Thailand

☆ Thai court to decide on election winners' challenge to derailed PM bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat looks on at a voting session for a new prime minister at the parliament, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court was due on Wednesday to decide whether to review a parliamentary decision that blocked a second prime ministerial bid by election winners Move Forward, a move that could end or prolong weeks of political deadlock. If it declines to review the decision, parliament could schedule a vote within days on the prime ministerial candidacy of businessman and political neophyte Srettha Thavisin, of the second-place Pheu Thai Party. House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has previously said a vote could be held as early as this Friday or Aug. 22. Move Forward on Tuesday declined to back former alliance partner Pheu Thai, arguing its government would not reflect the will of the people.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Athit, Pita, Wan Muhamad, Matha, Pheu, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thai Party, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

The NewsThailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition to renominate Pita Limjaroenrat, a leading candidate, as the country’s next prime minister. Mr. Pita, 42, led the progressive Move Forward Party to a surprise victory in the general election in May. But last month, the military-appointed Senate voted against him when he was nominated as prime minister by a new coalition. Pheu Thai, a populist party co-founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said on Tuesday it would nominate Srettha Thavisin, a real estate tycoon, as its prime minister candidate. The next vote for prime minister will take place in Parliament on Aug. 22, the House speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, said.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pita’s, Thaksin Shinawatra, Srettha, Mr, What’s, Sansiri, Pheu Thai’s, Phumtham Wechayachai, Wan, Matha Organizations: Party Locations: Thailand

☆ Thai election winner out of alliance aiming to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Panarat Thepgumpanat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Thailand's election-winning Move Forward Party has been excluded from a coalition of parties hoping to form the next government after a May general election, parties in the alliance said on Wednesday. Southeast Asia's second largest economy has been in political limbo since the poll, in which the progressive Move Forward emerged as the largest party, closely followed by the populist Pheu Thai party. "Pheu Thai, in consultation with Move Forward, will withdraw from cooperation and will move ahead with government formation and nominating Srettha Thavisin for prime minister," the Pheu Thai party said. "Pheu Thai has supported Move Forward to our fullest ability," Chonlanan said. The combined two houses of parliament are due to vote for a new prime minister on Friday.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Thaksin Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin, Pheu, Phumtham Wechayachai, Chonlanan Srikaew, Chonlanan, Chayut Setboonsarn, Devjyot Ghoshal, Jacqueline Wong, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Party, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Asia's, Pheu Thai

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