Lawmakers gather at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, July 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
BANGKOK – Thailand's parliament on Tuesday announced the postponement of the next vote to select a new prime minister due to a legal petition over the rejected renomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat.
The postponement came after the state ombudsman's office on Monday asked the Constitutional Court to review the vote by a joint parliamentary sitting on July 19 to reject Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat's renomination as the new prime minister
The postponement came after the state ombudsman's office on Monday asked the Constitutional Court to review the vote by a joint parliamentary sitting on July 19 to reject Pita's renomination as the new prime minister.
In its petition, the ombudsman's office also asked the court to suspend the prime minister's selection until the court makes a ruling on the case.
The Move Forward Party emerged as the largest party in the lower house of the National Assembly in Thailand's general election in May. It has since formed a coalition with the Pheu Thai Party and other smaller parties to support Pita to be the new prime minister.
READ MORE: Thailand's Move Forward makes way for Pheu Thai to form govt
Pita has failed to secure the necessary support in the previous two bicameral sittings of the Thai parliament to be elected. The Move Forward Party announced last week its decision to step aside to allow the coalition partner Pheu Thai Party to lead in forming a new government.