Top Thai court suspends parliament membership of premier hopeful

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ahead of the second round of vote to elect the prime minister, Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday suspended from the parliament the top contender for the post.

The decision came after the nation's election body asked the court to rule whether Pita Limjaroenrat’s TV shareholding disqualifies him from being a lawmaker or not, Thai PBS reported.

Pita was elected as a lawmaker in the May elections and his Move Forward Party won 151 seats in the 500-seated lower house of the bicameral parliament.