Thailand's Pita confident of surviving move to thwart his PM bid

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat takes part in the annual LGBTQ Pride parade in Bangkok, Thailand, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's prime ministerial frontrunner Pita Limjaroenrat played down an effort to disqualify him over a stock ownership issue on Tuesday, insisting he violated no rules and that rivals were determined to keep him from the top job.

Buoyed by massive youth support behind its anti-establishment, anti-monopoly agenda, Pita's progressive Move Forward party were the surprise winners of last month's election, which saw army proxies thrashed in a resounding rejection of nine years of conservative, military-backed rule.