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Despite winning the election, Pita Limjaroenrat was unable to become prime minister in May 2023. The military junta didn’t want that.
There was a big surprise in Thailand last year: the unexpected election winner Pita Limjaroenrat and his progressive Move Forward party promised nothing other than a realignment of Thai politics. Pita Limjaroenrat was celebrated like a superstar. «Thank you for being part of the change! The victory of the Move Forward Party is a victory for the people!” he said as he addressed his supporters.
The day before, his party had won the elections by a landslide. The parties that are close to the military junta and had previously been in power for almost ten years took the lower places. The Thai people have made their wishes very clear, Pita told international media at a press conference. Pita said in perfect English that he was ready to take up the office of prime minister.
Legend:
The president of the Move Forward party, Chaithawat Tulathon (l.), and the winner of the May elections, Pita Limjaroenrat.
Keystone/Narong Sangnak
Growing up in a wealthy and politically well-connected home, Pita spent part of his school days in New Zealand. He later studied in Thailand and the USA, including at Harvard University.
He was interested in politics from an early age, said Pita in an interview with Thai television. «When I was 12 or 13 years old, my host family in New Zealand only had three television channels. These showed rugby, cricket or news from Parliament. While I was doing my homework, I listened to the parliamentary debates and I learned how important these debates are,” says Pita. As party leader of Move Forward, Pita promises, among other things, to reform the powerful military and to relax the strict lese majeste law.
Unwanted in government
But those in power in the country don’t want the reformer in government. They want to keep him away from power using legal tricks, accusations and lawsuits. In the end, Pita fails due to the election procedure in parliament. Because: The Senate members appointed by the military junta vote – unsurprisingly – against Pita. Pita told the media after the first round of voting that he would not give up.
Pita is then excluded from a second round of voting. Finally, the opposition party Pheu Thai – which was defeated by Pita’s party in the elections – enters into a coalition that also includes parties close to the junta. The well-known real estate entrepreneur Srettha Thavisin will be the prime minister.
We have to convert our tears into energy, which we need for the next election.
The fact that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted from office, returned from exile almost at the same time indicates an agreement between the previous opposition party Pheu Thai and the establishment. The losers are Pita, his party and democracy.
In an interview with VOA’s Thai service, Pita is clear-headed: “I’ve seen so much in Thailand’s politics over the past 20 years. Parties that were dissolved, politicians whose power was limited. I saw the cruelty of politics.”
One could easily see the actual election winner and bearer of hope as a tragic hero. But: Pita Limjaroenrat continues to appear in public, he acts as an advisor to his party and does not seem like someone who would give up so quickly. He says: “I don’t take it personally, and I shouldn’t be sad either. We have to convert our tears into energy, which we need for the next election.”