THE Thai reformist political party that won the most seats at this year’s election appointed a temporary leader today, a week after blocked prime minister challenger Pita Limjaroenrat resigned as party head.

Thai voters disenchanted with a near-decade of rule by military-linked parties backed the Move Forward Party (MFP) at the May polls.

But there was a long political stalemate as conservatives thwarted Pita’s bid to secure the prime minister’s job and he was suspended as an MP.

MFP now sits on the opposition benches after Pheu Thai – the election runners-up – last month formed a coalition government with some pro-military parties while property mogul Srettha Thavisin was endorsed as prime minister.

Under current rules, the opposition leader must be an MP.

Today, Chaithawat Tulathon, 44 – who was previously the party’s secretary-general – was elected MFP leader.

“This is a temporary restructure. For legal reasons, Pita Limjaroenrat cannot perform the duty of opposition leader and be an MP at the moment,” Chaithawat told reporters.

“I am willing to step down once Pita resumes the position as an MP again.”

Chaithawat studied environmental engineering at university and has been involved in Thailand’s progressive political movement for more than five years, co-founding MFP’s predecessor party.

Pita will take on a chief adviser role for the party and vowed to travel the nation and meet with international stakeholders until he can resume as an MP.

“I ask everyone who believes in Move Forward, continue believing in us,” he told reporters.

Pita was suspended in July while waiting for the Constitutional Court’s ruling over his alleged ownership of shares in a now-defunct media company.

MPs are prohibited from owning media shares, under the Thai constitution.

The 43-year-old faced a barrage of political and legal challenges since MFP’s shock success in the May election.

He dropped out of the premiership race after his first bid faltered at the hands of the junta-appointed Senate, and his second chance was denied by parliamentarians.

Conservative lawmakers were spooked by MFP’s plans to reform the kingdom’s strict royal insult laws.

The Constitutional Court has intervened in politics before, disqualifying the billionaire leader of MFP’s predecessor party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, as an MP in 2019.

On Wednesday, a Thai court banned Pannika Wanich – an MFP figure – from politics for life for breaching “ethical standards” with decade-old photos deemed disrespectful to the kingdom’s revered monarchy. – AFP, September 23, 2023.