24-7-2023 (BANGKOK) The Office of the Ombudsman has asked the Constitutional Court to postpone the next vote for prime minister and to rule on the rejected renomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat. The secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman, Pol Lt Col Keerop Kritteeranont, stated that 17 complaints had been filed objecting to the parliament’s resolution rejecting Pita’s renomination and declaring it a violation of constitutional rights. These complaints came from both members of the public and parliament.
Some complainants have proposed that the Constitutional Court postpone the next parliamentary vote for prime minister until a ruling is made. The next round of voting is scheduled for Thursday. The Ombudsman has asked the Constitutional Court to postpone the prime ministerial vote by the House and Senate to prevent any future damage, according to the secretary-general.
The MFP secretary-general, Chaithawat Tulanon, stated earlier that the party had petitioned the Ombudsman to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether Pita could be renominated. MFP MP Panyarat Pusitanon, along with 16 other MFP MPs, jointly filed one of the complaints made to the Office of the Ombudsman.
On July 19th, the parliament rejected Pita’s renomination for prime minister by majority vote on a procedural issue. Opponents of Pita argued that parliamentary regulation 41 bans the resubmission of a failed motion during the same session, including Pita’s renomination. Pro-Pita parties argued that the nomination of Pita for prime minister was not a general motion and should not be subject to regulation 41.
In addition, 115 law lecturers from 19 institutions expressed their opposition to the parliament’s passing of the resolution on July 19th to block Pita’s renomination.
