Thai politician Pita Limjaroenrat will have his first shot at occupying the country’s top political office Thursday, as lawmakers gathered to elect a new prime minister in a vote that will test whether conservative groups are willing to undermine the results of a May election.
Pita, 42, was officially nominated for the job by Cholnan Srikaew, leader of Pheu Thai Party, the second-biggest outfit in Pita’s coalition that commands a total 312 lawmakers in the newly-elected, 500-member House of Representatives. The National Assembly started its meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Bangkok.
The young reformist is the sole candidate running for the top job after his progressive Move Forward Party emerged as the biggest winner at the polls. Yet, his premiership isn’t a given.