Former Thai PM hopeful cleared in first of two cases against opposition

FILE PHOTO: Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party holds up his ID card at parliament after Thailand's Constitutional Court ordered his temporary suspension from the parliament, on the day of the second vote for a new prime minister, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

BANGKOK (Reuters) -A Thai court on Wednesday cleared former prime ministerial hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat of violating election rules in the first of two cases targeting a popular opposition that has plans for radical reforms in the country.

The Harvard-educated Pita, 43, whose bid to become premier last year was thwarted by lawmakers allied with the royalist military, was cleared of wrongdoing as the Constitutional Court deemed the firm he held shares in had no broadcast concession and was not a mass media organisation.