The failure of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat to gain enough support in his bid for the premiership is neither surprising nor unexpected, given the coordinated efforts of the conservative camp to block the young leader.
Mr Pita gained 324 votes in Thursday's session, 51 short of the 375 votes required in the joint sitting of the Lower House and Senate to fulfil his political ambition. While the eight prospective coalition parties showed their solidarity with 311 votes, only 13 senators gave him the nod -- much fewer than the MFP had expected. The scarce support had something to do with pressure -- with various forms of threats and bribes -- from the old powers to prevent the Senate from stepping out of line. That resulted in a huge number of abstentions, 159, on the part of the Upper House.
