Thailand's Pita Limjareonrat quits as leader of election-winning party after failed PM bid

Pita Limjareonrat, the head of Thailand’s progressive Move Forward party, resigned on Friday, months after delivering a shock electoral win on an anti-establishment reform platform that threatened to upend the political status quo.

Move Forward was the big surprise of the May election, hammering parties supported by the strong military and royalist establishment before being barred from forming a government by conservative parliamentarians.

Move Forward currently represents the majority of the parliamentary opposition, but it will retain enormous political weight after capturing the majority of seats in and around Bangkok, as well as crucial metropolitan centres and several conservative strongholds.

The Harvard-educated Pita, 43, was twice denied by parliament in his efforts to become prime minister as military-appointed senators closed ranks to stop Move Forward, some over its controversial plans to amend a law that insulates the monarchy from criticism.

“I want to allow other lawmakers to take on this role of opposition leader,” Pita said on Facebook.

“But in any position, I will work with Move Forward and the people to the fullest of my abilities.”

The charismatic Pita had led pre-election opinion polls as Thailand’s top choice for prime minister but faced a host of legal and legislative challenges that he maintains were orchestrated to keep him from power.

He is currently suspended from parliament due to a court case concerning his eligibility to run for office, stemming from shares he held in a media company, which is against election rules. Pita has denied wrongdoing.

“I will continue to work with Move Forward and fellow citizens with all my strength to drive the change we hope for,” he said.