Thailand’s Constitutional Court ordered a temporary suspension of prime ministerial hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat as a lawmaker on Wednesday (Jul 19).
Thus, delivering its announcement as parliament convened for what could his final shot at becoming premier.
The court decision came after accepting a case that alleges Pita, leader of the election-winning Move Forward Party.
This was unqualified to run in a May 14 election because he held shares in a media company, in violation of electoral rules
The 42-year-old, US-educated liberal Pita lost his initial bid for the premiership in a parliamentary vote last week. And needs the backing of more than half of the bicameral parliament to become the next prime minister.
He must overcome fierce resistance from rivals at odds with his party’s anti-establishment ambitions.
As including a royalist military that appointed members of the Senate that denied Pita in his initial bid.
It was not immediately clear whether the court announcement would scuttle Wednesday’s vote, with lawmakers still debating Pita’s nomination.