Joint House/senate session to pick PM put off

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A JOINT HOUSE/SENATE meeting, earlier scheduled for the upcoming Thursday to pick a prime minister following the May 14 election, was today (July 25) indefinitely put off.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said he has indefinitely postponed the joint House/Senate session from Thursday, pending a ruling of the Constitutional Court on last week’s floor resolution to deny Move Forward Pita Limjaroenrat a second chance to be named and voted prime minister.

The Office of the Ombudsman has petitioned the Constitutional Court to judge whether any existing parliamentary rules could possibly overrule the constitution’s sections and clauses pertaining to the naming and voting of a prime minister.

In July 19’s joint session, a majority of lawmakers successfully turned down a sustained bid for the Move Forward leader to be named and voted prime minister after he had failed to make it at the first go earlier this month.

Meanwhile, a further meeting between the leaderships of the Pheu Thai-led coalition partners including the Move Forward earlier scheduled for tomorrow was postponed accordingly.

The Pheu Thai under de facto party boss Thaksin Shinawatra has apparently failed to garner support from non-coalition parties including the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, the Palang Pracharath headed by Prawit Wongsuwan and the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/caretaker prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, among others.

Both Prawit and Prayut who had handpicked all the 249 senators had also contested the nationwide election for prime minister whilst real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, known as personally associated with deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, are currently known as the No.1 and No. 2 candidate for prime minister among a trio of Pheu Thai contenders respectively.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat over a background of the Thai Parliament meeting chamber.

Front Page: Pita Limjaroenrat talking to reporters talking to reporters today, July 25, 2023.

Insert: House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. All photos: Matichon

Also read: Pita denied second chance of being named PM, suspended from performing as MP

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