Thailand Bars Pita From Running for Prime Minister

Summary:

• Thailand's Parliament voted against allowing Pita to run for Prime Minister a second time.
• Pita faces disqualification from the House of Representatives due to a case filed against him by the Election Commission.
• Protests erupted outside of Parliament Gates, with demonstrators expressing frustration over the apparent disregard for the people's will.
• The next PM vote will see heightened pressure on the candidates to secure the position on their first attempt.
• Potential candidates, including Settatwisin Patongha Chinawat, may enter the race for Prime Minister.

Thailand's political landscape has been shaken by the recent developments surrounding Pita's candidacy for the Prime Minister position. After Parliament's vote to disallow him from running for a second time, Pita faces a dead end in his political journey. However, his troubles do not end there, as he also faces a disqualification from the House of Representatives due to a case filed against him by the Election Commission. The future of his party is also at risk, as it could face dissolution over its pledge to reform the Lest-Majeste law.

The uncertainty surrounding Pita's political fate has been a topic of concern for many, with experts and protesters expressing their surprise and dismay at the recent developments. The Constitution does not impose a limit on the number of times a candidate can be nominated, making the denial of Pita's nomination perplexing to legal experts. Protests erupted outside of Parliament Gates, with demonstrators expressing their frustration at the apparent disregard for the people's will expressed in the May election. Pita's call for people to keep fighting with him adds fuel to the fire of dissent.

The next PM vote, scheduled for about a week from now, looms large in the wake of yesterday's decision. With Pita unable to run again, the next candidate will face heightened pressure to secure the top job on their first attempt. Pita's willingness to support the second largest party, Pita, remains uncertain, leaving the political landscape in suspense. Analysts anticipate potential candidates, including property tycoon Settatwisin Patongha Chinawat and candidates from conservative parties, to enter the fray.