Pita in this year’s TIME100 Next list of emerging leaders

MOVE FORWARD leader Pita Limjaroenrat was yesterday (Sep. 13) named among top 100 emerging leaders globally in Time magazine’s TIME100 Next list for this year after leading his party to a surprise victory in the May 14 election obtaining 151 out of 500 seats.

The magazine said of Pita, who was the only Thai to make it to this list: “The only thing more stunning than Pita Limjaroenrat’s election victory was the radical agenda he ran on to achieve it. The Harvard graduate’s upstart Move Forward Party secured 38% of votes in Thailand’s May 14 ballot.

“Pita’s path to power has been blocked by an unelected Senate and a flurry of legal challenges.”

Pita says his political awakening began in New Zealand, where he was sent for school as a young man. Today, the dad of one may not be Prime Minister, but the reformist movement he leads promises to keep building momentum, especially among young Thais.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved,” Pita says. “And we can do a lot more to provide checks and balances in parliament and speak on the behalf of the people.”

In 2019 Progressive Movement chairman and former leader of the defunct Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was also ranked in TIME100 Next list.

Thanathornhad engaged in similar legal battles which finally resulted in the Constitutional Court’s verdict to ban him and the then-members of the progressive party’s executive board from politics for a 10-year time and dissolve the party which has practically resurrected as the Move Forward.

“The honorees on this year’s TIME100 Next are rising stars whose work and determination is creating a better future,” said Time Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley. “We’re looking forward to celebrating these extraordinary individuals at our upcoming TIME100 Next event in October.”

On October 24, Time will host the third annual TIME100 Next event to celebrate the individuals spotlighted on the 2023 list. The event, which will take place at SECOND in New York City, will be hosted by Sibley and Time Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs.

Highlights from the 2023 TIME100 NEXT:

There are over 50 women on this year’s list: Mira Murati, Stephanie Hsu, Rachel Zegler, Megan Davis, Hailey Bieber, Alexandra Cooper, Emily Henry, Pinky Cole, Yulia Svyrydenko, Kate Ryder, Celine Song, R.F. Kuang, Ice Spice and more.

The 2023 TIME100 Next list features several US political figures including: J.D. Vance, Shalanda Young, Zooey Zephyr, David Holt, Anna Paulina Luna and more.

Athletes featured on the 2023 TIME100 Next list include: Jalen Hurts, Harmanpreet Kaur, Angel Reese, Ronald Acuña Jr., Rose Zhang, Salma Paralluelo and Sophia Smith.

Artists, entertainers and storytellers creating impactful work that are spotlighted on this year’s list include: Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler James Williams, Alexandra Cooper, Lily Gladstone, Corey Hawkins, Emma Corrin, Paul Mescal, Tems, Kali Uchis, Celine Song, Noah Kahan, Peso Pluma and more.

Leaders on the list who are working to advocate for and expedite climate action and solutions include: Kristina Dahl, Anastasia Volkova, Michael Regan, Cynthia Houniuhi, John Chweya, Txai Suruí, Rikki Held, Xiye Bastida, Andreas Flouris and Peter Reinhardt.