The leader of Thailand’s second-largest opposition party, Move Forward, has claimed victory over the country’s May 14 elections
Thailand’s opposition secured a stunning lead in the ongoing 2023 elections over the weekend as citizens united to vote against more years of military-backed rule.
Nearly all votes have been counted, and preliminary results published by the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) on Monday, May 15, showed that the youth-led Move Forward Party (MFP)—fronted by Gen.T honouree Pita Limjaroenrat—is in lead position, having secured 151 seats out of the 500 being contested. Its political ally, the Pheu Thai Party, is in second place with 141 seats.
The ECT has 60 days to certify the election results, and there are already numerous disputes raised, including allegations of overseas votes being voided.
MFP is known for its progressive and anti-junta policies, which include the legalisation of same-sex marriage and removal of military conscription, have helped it gain popularity among a large and loyal group of young Thais.
In 2020, Limjaroenrat was formally elected to lead MFP. Here are four facts about the politician.
He was 25 when he took over his family business
Limjaroenrat is the eldest son of Pongsak Limjaroenrat, a former adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the founder of CEO Agrifood, a rice bran oil company. His uncle is Padung Limjaroenrat, a close aide of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
In the first year of taking his master’s degree in the US, Limjaroenrat was called to return home to Thailand to take over the family business after the death of his father. He was only 25 at the time, but under his leadership, CEO Agrifood became one of Asia’s largest producers of rice bran oil. When it achieved stability, Pita returned to the US to complete his master’s programme.
