Parliament Votes To Bar Pita From Being Nominated For Second Round Of PM Vote

Thai parliament voted 394-312 to prevent election front-runners Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat from being re-nominated for the second round of the Prime Minister vote, which is the final nail in the coffin of his bid to become head of government.

• This comes after Pita had to leave the plenary hall as the Constitutional Court suspended him as an MP until a ruling in the so-called shareholding case, which may expose Pita to a hefty fine, prison sentence and/or voting ban.
• Today's vote split suggests that hardly anyone from outside of Pita's pro-democracy coalition supported his re-nomination. Pita was the MFP's only PM candidate, which turns the focus to Pheu Thai, who may take the lead in government formation.
• Former real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin seems to be Pheu Thai's preferred PM candidate after another potential candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said as much yesterday.
• A Pheu Thai candidate would be fighting an uphill battle to secure enough votes in parliament. Alternatively, the party could initiate talks with some pro-military parties, but this would come at a great reputational cost.