16-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Supporters of the Move Forward Party (MFP) have launched a “witch hunt” on social media against senators who voted against its leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid to become the new prime minister. Of the 206 senators attending the voting on Mr Pita’s prime ministerial nomination in parliament, 13 voted in his favour, 34 against and 159 abstained while another 43 senators were absent.
After the vote, Mr Pita’s supporters took to social media to attack the senators who voted against him or abstained, with the hashtag “Senator’s businesses” trending on Twitter on Friday, with more than 1 million tweets. These supporters also took aim at senators’ family members and launched a campaign against businesses run by the senators.
Senators hit back at the MFP’s supporters who harassed them and their families, and condemned the use of abusive language. Sen Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, who abstained, raised the matter with the MFP’s representatives who were sent to seek her support for Mr Pita. She wrote on Facebook, “They said they also disagreed [with the actions of the supporters], but they said they did not know how to deal with them.”
Ronwarit Pariyachattrakul, another senator who abstained during the vote, said he wanted to give moral support to his children who may face hostility from their friends who support Mr Pita. Mr Ronwarit wrote that unless the MFP backs down from its bid to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, Mr Pita will never get his vote for his nomination for prime minister.
