Thailand's Move Forward party files motion to curb senate's powers

BANGKOK (Bernama): Thailand's Move Forward Party filed a motion in Parliament to curtail the power of the 250-appointed Senate after its party leader Pita Limjaroenrat lost his bid to become prime minister.

Party secretary general Chaithawat Tulathon filed a motion on Friday to amend Article 272 of the Constitution. If successful, the amendment would remove the power of senators to jointly vote with elected MPs for the prime minister.

"The amendment will restore the power to elect the prime minister,” he said.

On Thursday, Pita failed to secure the necessary 375 votes of 749-member bicameral Parliament to claim the coveted position. Despite being the sole prime ministerial nominee, he only received 324 votes, while 182 votes were against him, and 199 abstained. A total of 44 members were absent for the sitting on Thursday.

Only 13 of the 249 senators (one resigned on Wednesday) backed Pita with the rest voting against him or abstaining.

Move Forward believed the senators may be acting under duress.

Meanwhile, Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha announced that the second round of voting to select the next prime minister will proceed as scheduled on July 19.

He declined to comment whether Pita could be re-nominated after his set back on Thursday.

"It is up to the parliamentary meeting to decide... We need to consult the regulations and the Constitution and listen to the decision taken at the meeting,” he said.

Move Forward party, which won 151 seats in the May 14 general election and garnered more than 14.2 million votes, is leading a coalition of eight parties that together secured 312 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives.

However, the coalition still needs 63 votes as the 249 military-appointed senators may be a stumbling block in Pita’s quest for premiership.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said that the party is sticking with the existing eight-party coalition led by the Move Forward Party.

"There is no Plan B for voting for a new prime minister,” he said. Pheu Thai is the second-largest party in the parliament, with 141 seats. - Bernama