Pita backs Natthaphong for two terms as PM in comeback speech

With just two weeks until Thailand’s general election, Pita Limjaroenrat has staged a comeback to help the People’s party’s revamped campaign, asking eligible voters to elect his party with a landslide and enable party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut to become prime minister for two terms.

Their new slogan is ‘Trust the People."

He was welcomed with loud cheers and applause as he stepped onto the stage at Samyan Mitrtown today, after returning from an overseas trip yesterday.

Greeting the crowd, he said: “I’m Pita Limjaroenrat. I’m back and I’m back for one reason and one reason only - to invite everyone to choose number 46 (the number drawn by the party at candidate registration) and send Prime Minister Teng (Natthaphong) to Government House.”

Pita, the former leader of the now-defunct Move Forward Party, said he was standing before the people again out of longing and familiarity, with unfinished business to settle.

“Although I have been stripped of my political rights, my longing for the people cannot be taken away. This atmosphere feels familiar, like home. Those who are afraid, stay behind - put your hope ahead,” he said.

Referring to the May 2023 general election, Pita said the party won 14 million votes, more than any other party nationally and second in constituency seats, but was not allowed to form the government.

He said his supporters would not accept that outcome again, stressing that the only way forward is to win by a landslide.

“How big a win?” he asked. “Big enough that the second-placed party does not dare to form a competing government.”

Pita said he wants to send “future Prime Minister Natthaphong” to serve two terms.

After that, he said, he and other members of the Move Forward team, who were stripped of political rights, will return. “Win long enough (in office) so that my daughter can grow up and come back to vote for someone like me. I can wait. I’m patient enough to wait,” he said.

He noted that more than 25% of Thailand’s 50 million eligible voters do not usually turn out to vote, acknowledging that many abstain because they would have to close their businesses, take leave from work or travel back to their home provinces to vote.

He stressed, however, that the upcoming election is more important than any that has preceded it. “With no Senate involved, that 25% represents 12 million people who have never voted before. I urge them to vote this time for the People’s party,” he said.

As for the 8 million people who, polls suggest, have not yet decided which party should form the next government, he urged them to choose the People’s party.

There are also, he said, two million young voters who feel hopeless and disappointed in the country. “You may feel disappointed, but do not give up completely,” he said.

A source in the People’s party believes that the return of Pita will help to focus the party’s leadership, which includes Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, former leader of the now defunct Future Forward party, and Natthaphong, the incumbent leader of the party.

It may well boost the morale of party members and increase its chances of winning more House seats.

Pita is currently serving a ten-year ban on holding an official political position, by an order of the Constitutional Court issued on August 7, 2024.

The court dissolved the Move Forward party after it was found guilty of attempting to overthrow the country’s democratic system with the King as the head of state, through its stated intent to amend the lèse majesté law (Section 112 of the Criminal Code).

Most recent opinion polls show Natthaphong to be the most popular candidate for prime minister. The latest survey by the King Prajadhipok Institute, conducted between January 8 and 11, shows, however, that 26.2% of the respondents say there is no suitable candidate for the post.

The poll shows that 18.8% of the respondents do, though, favour Natthaphong, followed by Anutin Charnvirakul (16.9%), Yodchanan Wongsawat of Pheu Thai (10.9%) and Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat party (10.2%).

With just two weeks to go before Election Day on February 8, the People’s party has played Pita as its trump card, hoping that he will help turn the tide in the direction of a landslide win.