BANGKOK: Pita Limjaroenrat, a Harvard graduate and corporate leader, has surprised the Thai establishment with his grassroots campaign advocating for royal reform, positioning him as a leading contender to become Thailand’s next prime minister.
His Move Forward Party (MFP) achieved a majority in the election, which witnessed a record turnout of 14.1 million supporters rallying behind him.
In a triumphant victory speech on Monday, Pita declared himself as “the next prime minister of Thailand” and expressed his party’s readiness to form a government.
Speaking in English, he stated, “Today is a new day, and hopefully it is full of sunshine and hope.”
Pita initially emerged in Thailand’s political landscape as one of the fresh faces of the progressive Future Forward Party in 2018.
The party secured the third-largest share of voters in the subsequent year’s election. However, it faced numerous legal challenges that critics argue were politically motivated, leading to the dissolution of Future Forward and a ban on its leaders from participating in politics.
Reborn as the Move Forward Party, Pita has been an energetic presence on the campaign trail, leveraging his youth and vitality to connect with disillusioned voters seeking change after over eight years of military-backed government.
“We will together rewrite Thai political history,” he passionately told ecstatic supporters at MFP’s final rally in Bangkok.
The election marks the first since significant youth-led pro-democracy protests erupted in Bangkok in 2020, demanding curbs on the power and spending of Thailand’s monarchy, challenging a long-standing taboo on questioning the institution.
MFP stands as the only party committed to reforming Thailand’s stringent lese majeste laws, known as “112” in the country’s penal code.
This subject is highly controversial and sensitive, traditionally considered untouchable in Thai politics.
Even opposition party Pheu Thai, formerly the most popular party in Thailand, stated that they would leave the issue to parliament.
However, Pita has boldly embraced the topic, affirming to reporters on Sunday that “no matter what, we will push for royal lese majeste law reform.”
In a Thai political landscape typically dominated by seasoned power brokers, Pita, a charismatic father of one, has garnered rockstar levels of enthusiasm from his supporters.
Having been educated in New Zealand and the United States, Pita pursued studies at Harvard on an international scholarship before embarking on an entrepreneurial career.
Following his father’s passing at the age of 25, Pita returned home to revive his family’s debt-ridden business, Agrifood, and turned its fortunes around. He later served as the executive director of transport and delivery app Grab Thailand.
He married Thai TV actress Chutima Teepanat in 2012, and they have a seven-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in 2019.
During his campaign, Pita prominently featured his young daughter, bringing her on stage after speeches, much to the delight of the crowds.
Online, he utilized a public “personal” account, followed by nearly one million users, to share pictures of himself and his daughter wearing matching t-shirts and enjoying ice cream together.
Despite his success at the ballot box, it remains uncertain whether Pita’s path to becoming prime minister will be straightforward. He must now form a coalition to surpass government-appointed senators who select Thailand’s prime minister from among eligible candidates.
His Move Forward Party (MFP) achieved a majority in the election, which witnessed a record turnout of 14.1 million supporters rallying behind him.
In a triumphant victory speech on Monday, Pita declared himself as “the next prime minister of Thailand” and expressed his party’s readiness to form a government.
Speaking in English, he stated, “Today is a new day, and hopefully it is full of sunshine and hope.”
Pita initially emerged in Thailand’s political landscape as one of the fresh faces of the progressive Future Forward Party in 2018.
The party secured the third-largest share of voters in the subsequent year’s election. However, it faced numerous legal challenges that critics argue were politically motivated, leading to the dissolution of Future Forward and a ban on its leaders from participating in politics.
Reborn as the Move Forward Party, Pita has been an energetic presence on the campaign trail, leveraging his youth and vitality to connect with disillusioned voters seeking change after over eight years of military-backed government.
“We will together rewrite Thai political history,” he passionately told ecstatic supporters at MFP’s final rally in Bangkok.
The election marks the first since significant youth-led pro-democracy protests erupted in Bangkok in 2020, demanding curbs on the power and spending of Thailand’s monarchy, challenging a long-standing taboo on questioning the institution.
MFP stands as the only party committed to reforming Thailand’s stringent lese majeste laws, known as “112” in the country’s penal code.
This subject is highly controversial and sensitive, traditionally considered untouchable in Thai politics.
Even opposition party Pheu Thai, formerly the most popular party in Thailand, stated that they would leave the issue to parliament.
However, Pita has boldly embraced the topic, affirming to reporters on Sunday that “no matter what, we will push for royal lese majeste law reform.”
In a Thai political landscape typically dominated by seasoned power brokers, Pita, a charismatic father of one, has garnered rockstar levels of enthusiasm from his supporters.
Having been educated in New Zealand and the United States, Pita pursued studies at Harvard on an international scholarship before embarking on an entrepreneurial career.
Following his father’s passing at the age of 25, Pita returned home to revive his family’s debt-ridden business, Agrifood, and turned its fortunes around. He later served as the executive director of transport and delivery app Grab Thailand.
He married Thai TV actress Chutima Teepanat in 2012, and they have a seven-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in 2019.
During his campaign, Pita prominently featured his young daughter, bringing her on stage after speeches, much to the delight of the crowds.
Online, he utilized a public “personal” account, followed by nearly one million users, to share pictures of himself and his daughter wearing matching t-shirts and enjoying ice cream together.
Despite his success at the ballot box, it remains uncertain whether Pita’s path to becoming prime minister will be straightforward. He must now form a coalition to surpass government-appointed senators who select Thailand’s prime minister from among eligible candidates.