Civil society organizations are exerting pressure on the military-appointed senators after some of them swore not to support Pita Limjaroenrat, the head of the Move Forward Party, as Thailand’s next prime minister.
The senators in question have said that Pita’s public anti-establishment stance from before the election is the reason for their opposition to him.
Pita is putting up a coalition government with Pheu Thai and a few other smaller parties that could garner 310 votes in the parliament. Pita would require the support of 66 senators chosen by the military if he wanted to win the 376 votes necessary to become prime minister.
A non-governmental organization called the Rural Doctor Society published a statement on Monday urging senators and representatives to respect the will of the people as expressed in the general election of May 14.
It claimed that the election’s outcomes amply demonstrated the Thai people’s will to transform their nation and that this was a significant step forward for democracy.
The society urged the 250 senators and MPs from all political parties to write democratic history by supporting Pita.
Pita’s election as prime minister would be a significant step toward resolving the nation’s protracted disputes, and supporting him would be a sign of respect for the voters’ intentions and expectations, it stated.
