63 ‘pro-democracy’ senators urged to help with Pita’s bid for PM

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

SIXTY-THREE SENATORS who had earlier endorsed a fruitless bid to rescind the senatorial power to vote for prime minister were today (May 16) advised to help land Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat the elected premiership.

Move Forward MP-designate Parit Wacharasindhu called on the 63 senators who had supported the aborted motions at parliament over the last few years to revoke the prime minister-picking power of their colleagues for help by joining hands with a majority of the elected MPs to make Pita head of a post-election government in a joint House/Senate session which is to be held in foreseeable future.

Though Section 272 of the military-designed constitution empowers the senators to cast votes alongside the MPs for prime minister, Parit contended that none of the unelected lawmakers should be involved in the voting for head of a post-election government as far as democratic rule is concerned.

The Move Forward MP-designate suggested that all other senators respect the decision of most voters who have sent the pro-Pita MPs to parliament despite the likelihood that most of them will either abstain from voting or even vote against the Move Forward leader for prime minister.

A Move Forward-led coalition government which is currently in the making has 310 MPs on their side, thus constituting a majority of the MPs elected by most voters in Sunday’s general election and rendering Pita righteously bound to be named prime minister, Parit said.

Nevertheless, the Move Forward leader will need yea votes from more than half the total of the 500 MPs and 250 senators combined or at least 376 votes, thus needing a minimum of 66 senators to make it enough for him to become the country’s 30th prime minister.

All 250 senators had been handpicked by Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan and coup leader-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha following the 2014 coup. Both have also contested Sunday’s election as partisan contenders for prime minister.

CAPTIONS:

Top: A joint House/senate meeting with an image of Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat inset. Photo: Matichon

Insert: Move Forward MP-designate Parit Wacharasindhu. Photo: Thai Rath

Front Page: Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrath. Photo: Thai Rath

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