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☆ 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

☆ Capita flags up to $32 mln costs related to cyber incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Capita's logo is pictured on a smartphone in front of an electronic display showing the same logo in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationAug 4 (Reuters) - Capita (CPI.L) said on Friday it expected net exceptional costs of up to 20-25 million pounds ($32 million) related to the cyber incident which rocked the British outsourcing firm in March. The company confirmed that some data was "exfiltrated" following the cyber incident and said its probe was close to completion. "There was minimal operational impact to the majority ofour clients and their customers during the incident," Capita said in a statement. ($1 = 0.7862 pounds)Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Capita, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Rashmi Aich, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: REUTERS, Capita, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

[1/2] People walk outside the parliament, after Thailand's constitution court ordered the temporary suspension of the Move Forward Party's leader Pita Limjaroenrat from the parliament, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee ThirasupaBANGKOK, July 20 (Reuters) - Thailand's parliament will hold another vote for a prime minister next week which cannot include the leader of election winners Move Forward, a deputy speaker said on Thursday, after rivals derailed his bid by blocking his re-nomination. "A candidate can only be nominated once in each parliamentary session," Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangphan told Reuters on Thursday. It is widely expected that real estate tycoon and political newcomer Srettha Thavisin from Move Forward's alliance partner Pheu Thai will be nominated for premier for the July 27 vote. "The eight parties are together, if there is a resolution for Pheu Thai to lead, then the party has to choose who to nominate," Srettha told reporters.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Parliament's, Pichet Chuamuangphan, Pita, Srettha, Pheu, Jetn Sirathranont, Thitinan, manoeuvred, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut, Orathai, Panu, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Constitutional, Senate, Chulalongkorn University, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK

☆ Thai Parliament's rejection of Pita's prime minister nomination is somewhat new, says advisory firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | 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 EmailThai Parliament's rejection of Pita's prime minister nomination is somewhat new, says advisory firmTeerasak Siripant of BowerGroupAsia discusses Move Forward Party leader's Pita Limjaroenrat derailed prime ministerial bid and the shortcomings of Thailand's electoral system.

Persons: Teerasak, BowerGroupAsia, Pita Limjaroenrat

☆ Swedish embassy alight in Baghdad, New Zealand mourning and joy - plus Thai turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Listen on the Read the episodeHundreds of protesters storm the Swedish embassy in central Baghdad, scaling its walls and setting it on fire in protest against the expected burning of a Koran in Stockholm. A deadly shooting in New Zealand hours ahead of the opening match of the Women's soccer World Cup. Plus, what next for Thailand’s anti-establishment movement after their prime ministerial candidate is barred from standing. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. Further ReadingSwedish embassy in Baghdad stormed, set alight over Koran burning plansNew Zealand shooter kills two ahead of Women's Soccer World CupThailand to hold another PM vote next week but Pita's bid over - speakerKenya protest: Several reported shot during tax hikes unrestOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Organizations: Thomson, Reading, New Zealand, Women's Soccer Locations: Swedish, Baghdad, Stockholm, New Zealand, Reading Swedish, New, Thailand, Kenya

The 42-year-old, U.S.-educated liberal Pita Limjaroenrat needs the backing of more than half of the bicameral parliament to be endorsed as Thailand's next prime minister, but must overcome fierce resistance from a military at odds with his party's anti-establishment ambitions. In a post on Twitter as parliament convened, Pita appealed to his rivals to vote according to the will of the people. In the first vote last week, Pita was 51 votes short and was backed by only 13 of the 249 senators, many of whom abstained or were no-shows, effectively votes against him. Move Forward believes many were pressured to deny him and Pita is hoping some could change their minds. They pledged to vote for Pita ... that's a sizable bloc."

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pita's, We're, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Michael Perry, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, that's

☆ Thailand's Pita hits hurdles as rivals seek to scuttle PM bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The leader of Thailand's election-winning Move Forward Party met fresh obstacles in his prime ministerial bid on Wednesday, as a court suspended him as a lawmaker and rivals mounted a parliamentary challenge to try to scuttle his nomination. U.S.-educated liberal Pita Limjaroenrat has an extremely difficult path to the top job, needing the backing of more than half of the bicameral parliament and to overcome fierce resistance from a royalist military at odds with his party's anti-establishment ambitions. The legislature convened for Pita's second shot at the top job on Wednesday but his rivals moved immediately to derail him by questioning the parliamentary rule under which he was nominated by his eight-party alliance. We have come halfway from the people's victory and there is another half to go," a smiling Pita told the house as he acknowledged the court's suspension order, receiving fist-bumps and applause. Hundreds of Pita's supporters gathered peacefully in Bangkok to protest against the efforts to stop him, some carrying signs denouncing senators for refusing to support him.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita Organizations: Party, Pita's, Reuters Locations: Thailand, Bangkok

☆ Can Thailand's Pita succeed in a second PM vote?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks during a voting session for a new prime minister at the parliament, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 13, 2023. An eight-party alliance has pledged its backing for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, despite his defeat in the first vote on July 13. Pita was 51 votes short of the 375 needed, as opponents closed ranks to deny him with a host of abstentions and no-shows. CAN PITA WIN THE SECOND VOTE? A separate concern for Move Forward is possible intervention by the Constitutional Court to suspend Pita from duty as a lawmaker.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Athit, Pita, PITA, Pheu, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prawit Wongsuwan, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Senate, CAN, WIN, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Pheu

After a meeting with the alliance, Pita said his re-nomination for prime minister could not be blocked by the Senate. However, Pita added that if he failed again he would let Move Forward's ally, the Pheu Thai party, "take action". At the weekend, he raised the prospect of a political ally leading the new government if he failed to become prime minister. Pheu Thai won the second-largest share of votes in May's election. One of its prime ministerial candidates, real estate magnate Srettha Thavisin, could be nominated for the next leader in the third vote for prime minister, if any.

Persons: Wednesday Pita, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu Thai, Srettha Thavisin, Orathai Sriring, Panarat, Kanupriya Kapoor, Alex Richardson Organizations: Wednesday, Senate, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand's, Thai, May's, Pita

☆ Thailand's Pita open to coalition ally leading government if he fails in PM bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, July 15 (Reuters) - Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Thailand's election winning Move Forward Party, on Saturday raised the prospect of a political ally leading the new government if he fails to become prime minister. "If it becomes clear that Move Forward Party cannot realistically lead government formation then I am... open to having the party that came second, which is Pheu Thai, to lead," Pita said. "All of Move Forward members of parliaments are ready to support Pheu Thai's prime minister candidates," he said. Pheu Thai holds 141 seats in the Lower House, 10 less than Move Forward. Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew said on Friday his party will support Pita's bid to become prime minister.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra, Chonlanan Srikaew, Panu, Mike Harrison Organizations: Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, Lower

[1/8] Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat poses for a picture on the day of voting for a new prime minister at the parliament, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 13, 2023. One senator resigned on Wednesday, lowering the threshold to 375 votes to become prime minister. "I'm confident that I will do my best to match the hopes and encouragement from the people," Pita told reporters. Political uncertainty has pulled Thailand's main stock index (.SETI) down about 11% so far this year. More turbulence can be expected if Pita cannot prevail in the vote given Move Forward's massive support from young voters and its popularity in the capital.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, ThaiRath, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Lincoln, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Senate, Thai, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Southeast Asia's

☆ Thailand's Pita defeated in parliament in bid for PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat failed on Thursday in his initial bid to become Thailand's next prime minister, after he was thwarted in a high-stakes parliamentary vote that included a host of no-shows and nearly 200 abstentions. The leader of election winners Move Forward was unopposed in the contest but struggled to muster the required support of more than half of 749-member the bicameral parliament, despite the backing of his eight-party alliance. Another vote is expected to be held next week, which Pita can contest if nominated again. Pita's determination to pursue Move Forward's agenda has put him at odds with a powerful nexus of conservatives and old-money families that have loomed large over Thai politics for decades, and had been expected to try to thwart him in parliament. Despite winning the election on massive youth support and popularity in the capital Bangkok, Pita needed to win over some of the 249 members of the conservative-leaning upper house Senate, which was appointed by the military after a 2014 coup.

Persons: Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu Organizations: Senate Locations: Bangkok

On Thursday, 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat failed in his initial bid to win the premiership after he was unable to secure enough votes in a joint sitting of Thailand's 750-member parliament. Another vote is expected to be held next week, which Pita can contest if nominated again. But Pita and Move Forward's agenda - particularly a once-unthinkable proposal to amend Thailand's "lese majeste" law - also pit them against the country's powerful conservative establishment, which controls the 250-member appointed senate. First, Thailand's election commission recommended the Constitutional Court disqualify Pita as a lawmaker because of his ownership of shares in a media company in violation of electoral rules. Some of those protesters - and some of those demands - were part of Move Forward's electoral juggernaut, including a call to amend the lese majeste law.

Persons: Thailand's, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Thais, Thaksin Shinawatra, Kannawee Suebsang, Devjyot Ghoshal, Panu, Nick Macfie Organizations: Wednesday, Constitutional, Harvard University, Pheu Thai Party, Fair Party, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, Thailand, Bangkok

The military has for decades invoked its duty to defend the monarchy to justify intervention in politics, and used the lese majeste law to stifle dissent, critics say. Much depends on whether Move Forward's main ally, second-place winner Pheu Thai, sticks with it or seeks other coalition partners if Pita's bid looks doomed. King Vajiralongkorn, 70, who has no role in choosing a government, has remained silent on the lese majeste issue since the election. In the last election in 2019, no party would have dared suggest amending the lese majeste law. Pheu Thai, which has 141 seats to Move Forward's 151, could nominate its prime ministerial candidate with the eight-party alliance intact.

Persons: Maha Vajiralongkorn, Suthida, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Seri Suwanpanon, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Prayuth Chan, Pheu, King Vajiralongkorn, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Thaksin Shinawatra, Titipol Phakdeewanich, Amarat Chokepamitkul, Panu, Kay Johnson, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Royal News, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, Senate, Ubon Ratchathani University, Royal Household Bureau, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, Handout, BANGKOK, Pheu

☆ Thailand alliance unites on house leadership after spat over speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A southerner and ethnic Malay Muslim in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, Wan Noor has served previously as house speaker and has close ties with Pheu Thai's leadership. "I will conduct duties fairly ... with transparency in considering draft laws and petitions to improve the lives of all Thais," Wan Noor told the house. Pita on Tuesday said Move Forward had "retreated" on its position having been assured by Wan Noor that its policies would be supported. The two deputy speaker positions will go to Move Forward and Pheu Thai. "What we do not know is whether Pheu Thai will switch sides if the initial vote for Pita fails."

Persons: Wan, Wan Noor, Pheu, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Titipol Organizations: Lawmakers, Prachachart Party, Malay Muslim, Facebook, Ubon Ratchathani University Locations: Thailand, Bangkok, Matha, Malay

Pita, the 42-year-old leader of the progressive Move Forward party whose election victory stunned Thailand's military-backed establishment, has faced multiple complaints from rivals, three of which the poll body has dismissed for late submission, while four others against the party have been thrown out. Pita has downplayed the issue, arguing the shares in the firm, ITV, have since been transferred and the company was not an active media organisation. "There is sufficient information to suspect that the candidate is unfit or prohibited from seeking public office, according to electoral regulations, to further investigate Pita," election commission chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong told Reuters in a text message. "The election commission may take action against Pita in the future," he told a press conference. Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pita Limjareonrat, Pita, Thailand's, Ittiporn Boonprakong, Tulathon, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: ITV, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Southeast Asia's, Bangkok

Pita maintains, however, that iTV's loss of its concession means it cannot be considered a mass media organisation. "I am very confident that I am not unfit to run for office and to be a candidate for prime minister," he said, referring to candidate qualifications. Pita, 42, has said the shares were part of his late father's estate, which he has declared to the anti-graft agency. The election commission's chairman at the weekend said the complaints were being examined and further evidence was being gathered. Pita has formed an alliance with seven other parties but faces an uphill battle to woo members of an unelected, conservative-leaning Senate to back him in a legislative vote on a prime minister, which is expected by August.

Persons: Pita, Pita Limjaroenrat, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: iTV, ITV Public Company, Constitutional, U.S, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK

☆ Bans, betrayals and stalemates: How Thailand's old guard could respond to election results
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (center), at a rally in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 18 2023. The vote for PM is expected in August after the Election Commission certifies election results. A Pheu Thai betrayalLed by the daughter of ex-prime minister Thaksin, Pheu Thai is an opposition party that is more careful about its messaging on the monarchy. "Pheu Thai will run the risk of being punished electorally by the pro-democracy voters, who are the key supporters of Pheu Thai in the future," warned Waitoolkiat. When the Future Forward Party was dissolved in 2020, it set off mass youth-led protests.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Valeria Mongelli, —, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, There's, Pita, Napisa, Susannah Patton Lowy, Thaksin, Susannah Patton, Patton, Pongsudhirak —, electorally, Waitoolkiat, there's Organizations: Party, Bloomberg, Getty, Chulalongkorn University, Chulalongkorn University's Faculty, Political Science, of Security, International Studies, Foreign Relations, Constitutional Court, National, Corruption, Electoral Commission, Constitutional, Human Rights, Center for Strategic, Naresuan University . Conservative, Senate, CSIS, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute, Conservative, CFR, Pheu, Forward Party Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, parliament's, Pheu Thai

[1/5] Move Forward Party leader, Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media following a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18, 2023. Move Forward, which won most seats after it capitalised on its groundswell of youth support, has an alliance of eight parties worth about 313 of the 500 lower house seats but no guarantees it can form a coalition government. "There is a committee and negotiation team in place to find out what I further need, the seats I need, so there is stability and no loss of balance in governing," Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat told a press conference. Move Forward won massive youth support with a lively campaign and sophisticated use of social media, but its anti-establishment stance on some issues, including over business monopolies, could complicate its bid to rule. It is far from certain that the new alliance would become Thailand's next government, despite a decisive opposition victory.

☆ Thailand's Move Forward confident of more support to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Move Forward Party leader, Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media following a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18, 2023. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, May 18 (Reuters) - The leader of the progressive Move Forward Party that secured a stunning victory in Thailand's election this week said on Thursday he was confident of building more support and being able form a stable and balanced government. Move Forward has campaigned on changing the lese-majeste law, under which at least 200 people have been charged in the past few years, many from a youth-led protest movement. The law prescribes jail terms of up to 15 years for each perceived offence, with some given sentences of several decades. Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Move Forward's main coalition partner would be the Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family that was - until now - the main challenger of the conservative, military-backed royalist establishment that has held power for the last decade. Pheu Thai, which won the last five general elections but got pushed out of power each time, secured 141 seats, according to the latest projections, only 10 fewer than Move Forward. "There are many obstacles that Move Forward and Pheu Thai have to overcome." Full-time politics came in 2019, when Pita entered parliament with 80 other members of the Future Forward Party. To become prime minister, Pita must also navigate the upper house.

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