Pita Limjareonrat, the prime ministerial candidate for the Move Forward Party (MFP), is now under investigation to determine if he met the qualifications to run in the recent election. This development presents yet another setback for Pita as he strives to garner support for his bid for premiership.
The 42-year-old leader of the MFP has been the target of multiple complaints from rival parties. The Election Commission has already dismissed three of these complaints due to their late submission, while four others filed against the party itself have been thrown out.
However, Pita’s situation remains precarious as the commission examines whether he knowingly registered as a parliamentary candidate despite being ineligible due to his ownership of shares in a media firm, a violation of election rules. Pita has sought to downplay the issue, asserting that the shares in ITV have been transferred and that the company is no longer an active media organization. Nonetheless, if found in violation, he could face disqualification, up to 10 years in prison, and a 20-year ban from politics.
A bicameral vote to elect a prime minister is anticipated to take place in August. As the MFP faces these challenges, the party’s secretary-general, Chaitawat Tulathon, expressed confidence on Monday (12 June), stating, “The party firmly believes that the allegations lack sufficient evidence.”
