Thai parliament blocks leader of party that won election from becoming PM

Politics experts said Pita Limjaroenrat’s fall was virtually preordained by the 2017 constitution (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

The bitter battle to name Thailand’s next prime minister has taken a major turn as parliament voted to deny Pita Limjaroenrat, whose progressive Move Forward Party won a surprise victory in May’s election, a second chance to be confirmed for the post.

Mr Pita had assembled a coalition of parties holding a majority in the house of representatives. But his nomination for prime minister was defeated in a joint vote of the house and senate last week, with conservative military-appointed senators mostly refusing their support.