Thai parliamentary vote to elect premier postponed

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) — Thailand's parliament speaker on Tuesday postponed a joint parliamentary vote to elect the country's next prime minister, local media reported.

The sitting between the two houses of parliament will not take place Thursday, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS, following two unsuccessful bids by leading candidate Pita Limjaroenrat to secure a majority.

Pita had vacated his parliament seat last week upon the orders of the Constitutional Court, which suspended him from the legislature pending an inquiry into his shares in a media firm.

The probe was also the reason behind the sitting's cancellation, which aims to prevent Pita's re-nomination as a prime ministerial candidate.

Thailand is currently in the process of electing its 30th premier after general elections in May.

Newly elected lawmakers and 249 senators, who are elected by the country's military junta, will vote in a joint sitting to pick the next head of government.

Pita, the leading candidate who is leading an eight-party coalition, failed to get the minimum 375 votes in an initial round of voting held earlier this month.