Pita Lamjaroenrat quits the leadership of Move Forward, opening up possibilities in parliament

by Steve Suwannarat

The resignation opens up room for the opposition in the House of Representatives. Thailand’s new government takes office today, still controlled by the establishment (military and monarchy), which Pita had tried to shake up. The young leader is included in the “Time100 Next” list of emerging leaders.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Pita Lamjaroenrat’s resignation from the leadership of the Move Forward (Phak Kao Klai) party, announced today, paves the way for changes at the top that could enable his successor to head the opposition in the Thai parliament.

A decision by the Constitutional Court still hangs over Pita’s eligibility to sit in parliament after his party won 151 seats out of 500 with 38 per cent of the vote in the 14 May elections.

The decision by the second-largest party, For Thais Party (Pheu Thai), one of Move Forward’s ally in the election, to quit the alliance is a move backward, undermining chances for political stability and changing perspectives for the country.

For Thais’s defection has given the military and the monarchy greater leeway to continue exerting their traditional influence.

Pita had challenged their role in the country’s political system, judging them inadequate for democratic transition and social change.

His decision to resign comes on the same day the new government began to work. The latter is the product of an alliance between two archrivals that was unthinkable just a few weeks ago, i.e. the pro-military People's State Power Party (Phak Phalang Pracharat) and the For Thais party linked to former Prime Minister Thakshin Shinawatra who returned in late August from 15 years in voluntary exile and is now purging a prison sentence cut from eight years to one.

Pita’s decision to resign, a hard one given his passion and undisputed personal success, was reached with his party’s support. Still, on Facebook, the 43-year-old reiterated his commitment to the party whose top officials will now pick a new leader to constructively lead the opposition.

With the term of office of the unelected, military-appointed senate set to end next year, Move Forward might have an opportunity to affect developments in the country. Hitherto the Senate had been able to snuff out changes.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court yesterday rejected petitions calling the dissolution of Move Forward and two smaller opposition parties for alleged anti-constitutional and separatist activities.

The court ruled that seeking to amend the constitution is a legitimate act; this especially relevant for any future debate over the document.

The ruling also allayed fears about another possible “legal coup", like in the past, against anti-establishment groups and voters' preferences.

On a personal note, Pita’s role and personality were recognised by Time magazine, which included him in this year’s “Time100 Next” list of emerging leaders.