The Constitutional Court in Thailand on Wednesday (Jan 24) reinstated the thwarted prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, as an MP, nearly six months after he was suspended.&nbsp;

Judge Punya Udchachon delivered the verdict and said the court decided that&nbsp;Limjaroenrat's MP status had not ended.&nbsp;

"ITV was not operating as media company on the day the party submitted the respondent's name for election.&nbsp;Holding the shares did not violate the law. The court has ruled his MP status has not ended," said Judge&nbsp;Udchachon, reading the verdict.&nbsp;

Notably, if the court had ruled against Pita, he would have faced disqualification from parliament altogether.

<h2>Why was&nbsp;Pita suspended?&nbsp;</h2>

It was in&nbsp;July last year that Pita, the&nbsp;ex-leader of Thailand's reformist Move Forward Party (MFP), was suspended while he was waiting for the ruling of the Constitutional Court over his ownership of shares in a media company, which is now defunct. 
 
As per the Constitution of Thailand, MPs are not allowed to own media shares. Emphasising the importance of the role, Pita said that it was like "the prow (of a ship) that determines the direction of the opposition".

WATCH |&nbsp;Thailand gets its 30th Prime Minister as Srettha Thavisin elected as new PM

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In September, he submitted his resignation as the party leader stating he was paving the way for an "MP that is able to have a voice in the parliament".&nbsp;

"Due to my MP suspension, I won't be able to get my MP position and be opposition leader in the near future,"&nbsp;wrote Pita&nbsp;on his official Facebook page.&nbsp;

<h2>What does the future hold for Pita?</h2>

While Pita led his party to win the most votes in last year's general elections, he was blocked from becoming the PM due to his suspension.&nbsp;

However, even before Wednesday's ruling, the media-savvy politician insisted he would run for office again and remained confident of getting his MP title back.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-election-result-2023-pheu-thai-and-move-forward-party-stun-military-loyalists-592442">Also read |&nbsp;Thailand election result 2023: Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party stun military loyalists</a>

Last year, during an interview with news agency AFP, Pita reiterated that he would take another crack at the PM role, saying he was "not giving up".&nbsp;

During the election canvassing trail, Pita capitalised on the majority of voters who were disenchanted by the decades-long junta-backed rule that had pushed the country's economy on a downward slope.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Constitutional Court in Thailand on Wednesday (Jan 24) reinstated the thwarted prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, as an MP, nearly six months after he was suspended.

The Constitutional Court in Thailand on Wednesday (Jan 24) reinstated the thwarted prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, as an MP, nearly six months after he was suspended. Judge Punya Udchachon delivered the verdict and said the court decided that Limjaroenrat's MP status had not ended. "ITV was not operating as media company on the day the party submitted the respondent's name for election. Holding the shares did not violate the law. The court has ruled his MP status has not ended," said Judge Udchachon, reading the verdict. Notably, if the court had ruled against Pita, he would have faced disqualification from parliament altogether. Why was Pita suspended? It was in July last year that Pita, the ex-leader of Thailand's reformist Move Forward Party (MFP), was suspended while he was waiting for the ruling of the Constitutional Court over his ownership of shares in a media company, which is now defunct. As per the Constitution of Thailand, MPs are not allowed to own media shares. Emphasising the importance of the role, Pita said that it was like "the prow (of a ship) that determines the direction of the opposition". WATCH | Thailand gets its 30th Prime Minister as Srettha Thavisin elected as new PM In September, he submitted his resignation as the party leader stating he was paving the way for an "MP that is able to have a voice in the parliament". "Due to my MP suspension, I won't be able to get my MP position and be opposition leader in the near future," wrote Pita on his official Facebook page. What does the future hold for Pita? While Pita led his party to win the most votes in last year's general elections, he was blocked from becoming the PM due to his suspension. However, even before Wednesday's ruling, the media-savvy politician insisted he would run for office again and remained confident of getting his MP title back. Also read | Thailand election result 2023: Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party stun military loyalists Last year, during an interview with news agency AFP, Pita reiterated that he would take another crack at the PM role, saying he was "not giving up". During the election canvassing trail, Pita capitalised on the majority of voters who were disenchanted by the decades-long junta-backed rule that had pushed the country's economy on a downward slope. (With inputs from agencies)

Thailand’s blocked PM challenger Pita Limjaroenrat reinstated as MP by court

A constitutional court in Thailand ruled that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha has not exceeded his eight-year term limit, clearing the way for Prayuth to resume office Friday. The former army chief, who came to power in a 2014 military coup, was suspended last month while the court examined a legal challenge mounted by opposition parties who argued he had reached his term limit in power.

Security has been tightened in Bangkok as several protest groups had earlier said they would take to the streets if Prayuth won the case. At least three protest groups, which came to prominence during 2020's massive pro-democracy rallies, had said they would demonstrate if the ruling is in Prayuth's favour.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/explainer-why-did-a-thai-court-suspend-prime-minister-prayuth-and-what-will-happen-next-509787">Why did a Thai court suspend Prime Minister Prayuth and what will happen next?</a>

"The constitutional court rules by a majority that the respondent's premiership has not reached the eight-year limit," said judge Punya Udchacon, reading the ruling.

"The cabinet under the premiership of the respondent is counted from April 6, 2017."

The 2017 Thai constitution states that a prime minister cannot serve more than eight years in office. However, there had been disagreements between Prayuth's supporters and critics over when his term began.

The ruling counts Prayuth's term from when the new army-scripted constitution came into force and means he can stay in office until 2025. But the tenure will depend on an upcoming national poll, which must be held within months.

Prayuth issued a statement welcoming the 6-3 majority ruling in a statement on his official Facebook page, saying he would use the government's remaining time in office to push ahead with infrastructure projects.

"I will try my best and work with my full capacity to change the country," he wrote.

Following Prayuth's suspension in August, his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan took over as caretaker prime minister, while Prayut continued to serve as defence minister. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A constitutional court in Thailand ruled that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha has not exceeded his eight-year term limit, clearing the way for Prayuth to resume office Friday.

A constitutional court in Thailand ruled that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha has not exceeded his eight-year term limit, clearing the way for Prayuth to resume office Friday. The former army chief, who came to power in a 2014 military coup, was suspended last month while the court examined a legal challenge mounted by opposition parties who argued he had reached his term limit in power. Security has been tightened in Bangkok as several protest groups had earlier said they would take to the streets if Prayuth won the case. At least three protest groups, which came to prominence during 2020's massive pro-democracy rallies, had said they would demonstrate if the ruling is in Prayuth's favour. Also Read | Why did a Thai court suspend Prime Minister Prayuth and what will happen next? "The constitutional court rules by a majority that the respondent's premiership has not reached the eight-year limit," said judge Punya Udchacon, reading the ruling. "The cabinet under the premiership of the respondent is counted from April 6, 2017." The 2017 Thai constitution states that a prime minister cannot serve more than eight years in office. However, there had been disagreements between Prayuth's supporters and critics over when his term began. The ruling counts Prayuth's term from when the new army-scripted constitution came into force and means he can stay in office until 2025. But the tenure will depend on an upcoming national poll, which must be held within months. Prayuth issued a statement welcoming the 6-3 majority ruling in a statement on his official Facebook page, saying he would use the government's remaining time in office to push ahead with infrastructure projects. "I will try my best and work with my full capacity to change the country," he wrote. Following Prayuth's suspension in August, his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan took over as caretaker prime minister, while Prayut continued to serve as defence minister. (With inputs from agencies)

Court rules in Thai Prime Minister Prayuth’s favour, paves way for his return to office

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Thailand’s blocked PM challenger Pita Limjaroenrat reinstated as MP by court

Court rules in Thai Prime Minister Prayuth’s favour, paves way for his return to office