However, it remains unclear whether the Move Forward Party leader can be renominated as prime minister.
Speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the Parliament Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said on Tuesday that certain parliamentarians do not support Mr Pita’s renomination for the premiership because he had already been rejected last week.
They claimed a rejected motion cannot be resubmitted for consideration in the same parliamentary session, citing the regulations for parliamentary sitting.
“The other opinion is that the prime ministerial selection is not a general motion but a process to nominate an individual as prime minister, which exists as a separate section in the regulations for parliamentary sitting,” Mr Wan Muhamad explained.
Parliamentarians will be able to debate the issue before he reaches a conclusion.
PITA READY TO BACK PHEU THAI IN CASE HE LOSES
The election on May 14 saw the highest voter turnout in Thailand’s political history. There were about 52 million eligible voters in the polls, and about 39.3 million people – 75.22 per cent – came out to cast their ballots.
The Move Forward Party pulled off a surprise victory with 151 seats in parliament, followed by Pheu Thai with 141 seats.
Still, the electoral winner is struggling to consolidate enough votes for its leader to become the next prime minister, especially from the 249 senators handpicked by the military government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha – Thailand’s caretaker prime minister.
Last week, 159 senators abstained from voting and 43 others did not show up for the prime ministerial vote.
Source: CNA
