The battle to name Thailand’s next prime minister took a major turn Wednesday as Parliament voted to deny Pita Limjaroenrat, who’s progressive Move Forward Party won a surprise victory in May’s election, a second chance to be confirmed for the post.
 
Pita had assembled a coalition of parties holding a majority in the House of Representatives. But his nomination for prime minister was defeated in a joint vote of the House and Senate last week, with conservative military-appointed senators mostly refusing their support.
 
A joint session debated Wednesday whether Pita could be nominated for a second time, and House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha then put the question to a vote. A motion to deny him a second chance was passed by a vote of 395 to 312 with eight abstentions. The meeting of Parliament was the second blow suffered by Pita on Wednesday after the Constitutional Court suspended him from Parliament pending its ruling on whether he violated election law.
 
The court’s announcement would have still allowed Pita’s nomination and selection as prime minister. That is now ruled out by Parliament’s action, and Pita remains in legal jeopardy, subject to a possible jail term if the court rules against him.