Global Courant
BANGKOK – Thailand’s parliament will vote for a new prime minister on July 13, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said on Wednesday.
The announcement comes a day after Mr Wan Noor was endorsed as House Speaker, a role in which he can call for a joint assembly of the country’s bicameral legislature to vote on the next prime minister.
The election-winning Move Forward party and populist Pheu Thai defeated conservative rivals in a May vote to secure 151 and 141 seats respectively in the 500-member lower house.
Along with six other parties, they are expected to propose Move Forward leader, US-educated Pita Limjaroenrat, as the next prime minister to replace incumbent Prayut Chan-o-cha.
However, with 312 votes, the alliance falls short of the 376 votes Mr Pita needs in the joint assembly, which includes a conservative-minded senate of 250 members appointed during military rule. REUTERS