Thai PM Vote Faces Delay Amid Challenge to Pita’s Exclusion

  • Ombudsman to challenge parliament denial of Pita renomination
  • New PM vote may be delayed on petition, Pheu Thai struggle

Pita Limjaroenrat on July 22.

Photographer: Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images
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Thailand’s wait for a new prime minister after the May general election may get longer as the nation’s ombudsman plans to challenge a parliament move to deny renomination of pro-democracy leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

The Office of the Ombudsman plans to petition the constitutional court to delay a fresh vote to select a prime minister until it rules on the legality of the parliament’s decision against Pita, Secretary-General Keirov Kritteranon told a briefing on Monday. The move follows a clutch of petitions from lawmakers and legal experts seeking the ombudsman’s help in approaching the court, he said.