Thailand's prime minister candidate faces legal challenge

Bangkok [Thailand], June 6: The leader of the party that won Thailand's lower house election is facing charges of violating the constitution that could disqualify him from becoming prime minister.
The Progressive Party (MFP), led by 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat, won 151 seats in the May 14 lower house election - more than any other party. The MFP is pushing to form a coalition government with seven other parties and coalition partners have agreed to back Mr Pita in the prime ministerial election that could be held in August.
But the Nikkei Asia newspaper on June 5 reported that RuangkraiLeekitwattana, a lawmaker from the ruling PalangPracharat (PPP) party, had filed a complaint with the Election Commission of Thailand alleging that Mr. Pita violated the constitution. Thailand's constitution prohibits lower house candidates from owning shares in media companies. According to Mr. Ruangkrai, Mr. Pita inherited a stake in a television station from his father.
Mr. Ruangkrai is a political activist who has brought down big names. His notable feat was forcing the late Prime Minister SamakSundaravej to resign in 2008 due to a conflict of interest over an appearance on a cooking TV show. There is growing speculation about whether Mr. Pita will "fall off his horse" like that.
Thailand's Election Commission has begun reviewing the charges against Mr. Pita and is expected to make a decision before the seats in the lower house are allotted in mid-July. If found to have broken the law, Mr. Pita can may be stripped of their seats in parliament.
However, the Thai prime minister is not necessarily an incumbent lawmaker and Mr Pita is likely to remain the prime ministerial candidate of the MFP-led coalition under the partnership agreement. This coalition won more than 310 seats in the lower house, or more than 60% of the total number of seats.
However, if the Election Commission fails to reach a conclusion and leaves the matter to the Constitutional Court of Thailand, the situation could become more complicated. The Constitutional Court can temporarily ban Mr. Pita from participating in political activities. This means that "his hopes of being prime minister may be over," according to Nikkei Asia, citing a diplomatic source.
The members of the Election Commission and judges of the Constitutional Court are currently elected by the military government that came to power after the 2014 coup and are believed to remain under the influence of the armed forces.
At the end of May, Thai Deputy Prime Minister WissanuKrea-ngam raised the possibility of holding a new election if current issues are not resolved.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper