Thailand's parliament has delayed the vote to select Thailand's new prime minister. The Constitutional Court postponed a decision in a case where the legislature was refusing to allow the progressive party that won May's election, a second shot at forming a government.
The Constitutional Court said it needs more time to deliberate on whether to accept a petition from the state ombudsman on whether it was constitutional for Parliament to bar Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, the surprise election winner, from being nominated as a prime ministerial candidate a second time, AP reported. The court asked for more details on the matter.
This raises questions about the stability of the Southeast Asian country. “The petition pertains to a key issue that must be considered carefully, as well as the principles of constitutional monarchy that requires further consideration,” the court said in the statement, Bloomberg reported. The court will reconsider the case on August 16.
The Move Forward, which won the most seats in the May elections, formed a coalition with seven other parties in order to form a government. The alliance controls 312 out of 500 seats in the House of Representatives but was unable to form a government because of resistance from conservative opponents and the 250 members of a Senate appointed during military rule.
Property tycoon Srettha Thavisin is set to seek parliamentary approval to form a government with a new coalition formed with Pheu Thai, a party linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Pheu Thai parted ways with the Move Forward party on Wednesday and is set to unveil a new alliance that may include some conservative groups opposed to Pita. Pita, whose lawmaker status has been suspended, faces opposition from conservatives due to his party’s pledge to reform a law banning criticism of the country’s monarchy.
