“Political showdown” in Thailand – tension ahead of prime minister’s election Life sentences for three police officers in Argentina for murder of a youth

In Thailand, parliamentary debate has begun in the run-up to the long-awaited election of the new prime minister. The only candidate for office is Pita Limjaroenrat, who won parliamentary elections in May with his pro-democracy opposition party Move Forward. The vote is scheduled for late Thursday afternoon (local time). The newspaper “Bangkok Post” spoke of a “political confrontation”.

Due to a quirk in the constitution, it is questionable whether the 42-year-old election winner will make the leap to power and replace the army that has been in power since a coup in 2014. Not only the 500 newly elected MPs, but also 250 unelected senators appointed by the military determine the prime minister – that was enshrined in the constitution by the generals after their coup. It’s unclear how many senators will support Pita.

The sticking point in the parliamentary debate is mainly the plan of Pita’s progressive party to change the controversial lèse-majeste law: the popular holiday destination punishes lèse-majesté more severely than almost any other country in the world. The law provides for long prison sentences and time and time again very young Thais are arrested. This has long been protested by the public – but many conservative politicians want to abide by the law.

In addition, it was only announced on Wednesday that Pita could lose his parliamentary membership. The country’s election commission had formally granted a request to ask the constitutional court for the immediate suspension of Pita.

The background is research into alleged shares in a media company that the Harvard graduate allegedly owned during his candidacy – which is prohibited in Thailand for contestants in an election. Regardless of the investigation, Pita could be elected head of government. The Bangkok Post quoted him as saying, “The media company in question has been closed for ages and I only held the shares as executor of my father’s estate.” (saw/sda/dpa)