Cover photo: The Reporters

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a petition with the Constitutional Court, requesting a ruling in the case of the parliament’s rejection the renomination of Pita Limjaroenrat, the PM candidate from the Move Forward Party.

On 24 July 2023, Matichon Online reported that Pol Lt Col Keirov Krittateeranon, Secretary-General of the Office of the Ombudsman, said 17 complaints have been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman asking it to file a petition with the Constitutional Court to rule on the case of the parliament’s vote against Pita’s renomination.

The complaints said Section 41 of the Parliamentary Regulations, which was claimed to support the rejection of Pita’s renomination, violates the rights and freedoms of the complainants. Keirov said the Ombudsman has agreed to submit a petition to the Court.

The complainants included both MPs and Thai people whose rights are protected under Section 3 of the Constitution of Thailand. Should parliament’s action be ruled unconstitutional, its decision will be invalid and deemed to breach the rights and freedoms of the complainants. In addition, there is an ongoing direct effect on the complainants’ rights and freedoms, potentially causing them unavoidable damage, according to Keirov.

Keirov stated that another petition filed with the Court requests a Court order to suspend PM selection until the ruling is delivered.

On 19 July 2023, 395 of 715 members of both houses of parliament voted to reject Pita’s PM renomination. MPs who are not in favour of Pita claimed that Section 41 of the Parliamentary Regulations prohibits the resubmission of a failed motion during the same session.