Thai Political Upstart Pita Survives Another Day

Charismatic and fresh-faced, reformist politician Pita Limjaroenrat shook up Thailand's political landscape with an energetic approach and an uncompromising pledge to bring change

Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2024) Charismatic and fresh-faced, reformist politician Pita Limjaroenrat shook up Thailand's political landscape with an energetic approach and an uncompromising pledge to bring change.

The 43-year-old Harvard graduate led the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) to a shock first place in last May's general election, seeing off the ageing power-brokers who have long dominated Thai politics.

He stood by pledges to amend Thailand's strict royal defamation law and reform the military -- promises that struck a chord with young and urban voters wearied by a near-decade of army-backed rule.

But the dream quickly shattered as conservative forces blocked his bid to become prime minister and he and his party were dragged into legal disputes.

One of those cases was resolved on Wednesday, with the Constitutional Court clearing him of wrong-doing over owning media shares -- banned for Thai lawmakers.

The ruling paves the way for Pita to retake his seat in parliament, and he has always insisted he will run for office again, telling AFP last year that he was "not giving up".

- Political headwinds -

Pita first appeared on Thailand's political scene in 2018 as part of the newly formed progressive Future Forward Party.

But after garnering huge support in the 2019 elections, the party was battered by legal challenges and dissolved, with its leaders banned from politics.

It was reborn as the MFP led by Pita, who capitalised on his charismatic dynamism and youthful energy to reach disillusioned voters ready for change.

He called for changes to the strict lese-majeste laws, which protect Thailand's royal family and carry a prison term of up to 15 years for criticism of the monarchy.

"No matter what, we will push for lese-majeste law reform in the parliament," Pita reiterated after his party's win.

But his position spooked many in the kingdom's military-appointed Senate, who refused to back him.

Having lost the PM vote and straddled by legal issues, the MFP was shut out of a new coalition headed by the Pheu Thai party.

- 'Do not step back' -

Pita, who was named one of Thailand's "50 Most Eligible Bachelors" in 2008 by CLEO magazine, was educated in New Zealand and landed an international scholarship to study at Harvard.

His father died when he was 25 and Pita returned to Thailand to run his family's heavily indebted business Agrifood, turning its fortunes around.

He then became executive director of the transport and delivery app Grab Thailand before entering politics.

Thailand's anti-corruption commission revealed Pita has assets worth $2.4 million -- including a watch collection valued at $162,000.

He married Thai tv actress Chutima Teepanat in 2012 and they have a seven-year-old daughter. The marriage broke down in 2019.

While he has been relatively quiet online in recent months, he took a highly publicised trip to the United States last year, where he met with international political leaders.

During the campaign, he leveraged his Instagram to appeal to voters, sharing images of him and his daughter.