Company owned by ex-senator attacks lawmakers for blocking ‘people’s mandate’
A company in Samut Prakan has put up five banners attacking the “disgraceful” Constitution that allowed senators and the Election Commission (EC) to block the election winner from forming a government.
The firm, which is reportedly owned by a former senator, has been putting up banners since July 25 openly criticising the charter, the Senate, the EC and even the Constitutional Court after Move Forward PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat was blocked from being renominated.
All banners, except one, carried words painted in white over a black background. One banner had the words “Firmly hold hands and don’t let losing parties join forces to drive the democratic side to become opposition” painted in red over a white background.
This 15-metre-long banner was hung at the company’s entrance.
Images of the banners have practically gone viral on social media, winning “hearts” and “likes” from Move Forward supporters.
The banners were inspired by Pita’s failure to become PM in the first round of parliamentary voting on July 13 despite his party winning the election.
Move Forward won 151 MP seats and formed an alliance with seven other parties with a total of 312 House seats.
The Constitutional Court later suspended Pita as an MP pending a ruling over whether he should be disqualified for holding shares in ITV Plc when he applied to contest in the May 14 election. The case had been taken to court by the EC, even though ITV is no longer an operating media company.
When Pita was about to contest again in the second round, senators – who had been appointed by coup makers – joined forces with MPs from the opposite side to block Pita from being renominated. They cited a parliamentary regulation.
Some members of the Move Forward-led bloc suggested that the alliance wait another 10 months until the senators’ term has expired before bidding for the PM’s post.
