Thailand’s parliament canceled plans to elect a prime minister on Friday and said a new date would be set when there is more clarity on a legal challenge, stoking concerns of a prolonged political stalemate and triggering a slump in stocks and the currency.
A revised schedule for the premier vote may be set after the Constitutional Court on Aug. 16 decides on the plea to review the denial of pro-democracy leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s renomination, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha told reporters in Bangkok on Thursday.
His comments came after the court said it needed more time to decide whether to look into the legality of a parliament vote last month that barred Pita from running a second time for prime minister after his first attempt was thwarted by conservative lawmakers and senators.