Thailand Parliament Fails to Elect Prime Minister... Pita Fails to Secure Majority Vote

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, Pita Limjaroenrat (42), leader of the Progress Party and the opposition prime minister candidate who won the Thai general election last May, faced defeat in the parliamentary prime minister election vote.

Pita was the sole candidate in the joint vote of the House and Senate held that day but failed to secure a majority.

The Thai prime minister election follows the constitution revised by the military junta in 2017. The vote includes participation not only from the 500 members of the House of Representatives but also from the senators appointed by the military.

Although the Senate has 250 seats, one member resigned the day before, leaving 249 senators. To become prime minister, a candidate needed the support of more than half of the combined 749 members of both houses, which is at least 375 votes.

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