Senators still unsure about backing Pita

A joint meeting of MPs and senators. (File photo)
A joint meeting of MPs and senators. (File photo)

The majority of senators have not yet decided if they will back Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister, according to senator Wanchai Sornsiri.

Senators have three options -- vote for Mr Pita, not vote for him or abstain from voting -- but it is hard to say what the majority will decide, and several are not expected to make a decision until voting day, he said.

Mr Wanchai also said he will vote for the prime ministerial candidate nominated by a coalition that manages to secure more than 250 House seats.

The MFP-led bloc, with eight political parties and 313 House seats, needs at least 376 votes in the 750-seat parliament, which comprises 500 MPs and 250 senators, to secure Mr Pita's bid for prime minister.

According to Mr Wanchai, the Senate is unlikely to factor in the allegations made against Mr Pita over his ownership of shares in iTV when they vote, as the issue should be left in the hands of the authorities.

A political activist has asked the Election Commission to investigate Mr Pita, claiming the MFP leader owns 42,000 shares in iTV.

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Vocabulary

  • abstain: to decide not to use your vote - ไม่ออกเสียง
  • activist: someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation - นักกิจกรรม
  • allegations (noun): accusations - ข้อกล่าวหา
  • back: to support - สนับสนุน
  • bid: an attempt to do something - ความพยายาม 
  • bloc: a group of people, countries, etc. who work closely together - กลุ่ม
  • candidate: one of the people being considered for a job - ตัวแทนที่ส่งเข้ารับตำแหน่ง
  • coalition: a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together - การร่วมรัฐบาล
  • majority: more than 50 percent of a group - เสียงส่วนใหญ่
  • ministerial: involving government ministers - ระดับรัฐมนตรี
  • share: any of the units of equal value into which a company is divided and sold to raise money. People who own shares receive part of the company's profits - หุ้น
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