Thai PM hopeful Pita willing to slow pace of party’s reform agenda

BANGKOK - Thai prime ministerial candidate

Pita Limjaroenrat

on Tuesday said he was willing to slow the pace of his party’s ambitious reform agenda if he forms a government, but would not retreat from its plan to amend a law prohibiting royal insults.

In an interview with Reuters on the eve of his second bid to win the top job, the leader of the election-winning Move Forward party described

efforts by the military establishment to block him

as like a “broken record” and said Thailand had entered a different era with the public hankering for change.

Mr Pita, 42, will contest a parliamentary vote on the premiership on Wednesday for the second time, after failing last week to win the required backing of more than half of the legislature, as the conservative, military-appointed Senate closed ranks to deny him the top job.

“It was absolutely expected, the same thing, same venue. Broken record. But the sentiment of the era has changed,” he said in the interview.

“Despite what happens tomorrow, there has been progress in society. They demand something new, something fresh.”

Move Forward was

the surprise winner of the May 14 election

, capitalising on massive youth support to defeat conservative rivals in what was seen as a resounding rejection of nearly a decade of government led or backed by the military.

But it is hamstrung by a constitution drafted by the military, which makes it very difficult for elected parties to form a government without the endorsement of the Senate. The Senate typically votes in line with the powerful army and conservative establishment.

The party’s plans to tackle business monopolies, end conscription in the military and remove generals from politics are controversial, but none more so than its aim of changing article 112 of the criminal code, which punishes insults of the monarchy by up to 15 years in jail.

Pre-planned obstacles

Mr Pita faces more obstacles on Wednesday, when some senators will try to block his second nomination for prime minister, arguing a motion that was not endorsed cannot be re-submitted.

On the same day, the Constitutional Court will consider a complaint against him seeking his disqualification as a lawmaker over a shareholding issue deemed in violation of election rules.

“The court decision, parliamentary rules and also the senators – that’s three-to-four obstacles coincidentally happening in a day,” he said.

“That’s fine. It’s something that was pre-planned.”

He said Move Forward was “not the party of the radical or the young”, but had an opportunity to serve all of Thailand.

Its boldest aim is to change article 112 of the criminal code, under which hundreds of people have been charged with insulting the monarchy, which carries jail terms of up to 15 years.

The military has for decades invoked its duty to defend the monarchy to justify intervention in politics. Critics say it has used the law against royal insult to stifle dissent.

Mr Pita said the decision on 112 was ultimately one for Parliament and Move Forward would not dominate the issue, nor would it back away from its agenda in order to get a smoother passage to office.

Amending 112 was not a threat to the palace, he said, but would ensure the monarchy was not politicised and that the law was not misused.

“I’m still sticking to what I promised the voters… the institution is above politics. That’s the only option for governance in this country,” he said.

He added: “I cannot look them in the eye if I’m walking away from this issue.” REUTERS