Frontrunner to be Thailand’s next prime minister celebrates Pride

BANGKOK, Thailand -

Pita Limjaroenrat, a member of Parliament and Leader of Move Forward Party, is assembling a coalition to govern this Southeast Asian country after winning the most seats in a May 14 general election.

Limjaroenrat, his progressive party and its co-partners are promising to deliver on pledges to pass laws protecting the country’s LGBTQ+ people.

Limjaroenrat is expected to be named as Prime Minister, however, the Election Commission has 60 days to certify the results of the May General Election. The process for selection of a prime minister is complicated, under the 2017 Thai constitution prime ministers may only be chosen from a pre-declared list of candidates. Each party may submit up to three names and must have at least 25 members in the House of Representatives to receive eligibility.

Parliament’s vote for Prime Minister will take place in a joint session with the 250- seat Senate appointed by the junta, according to the constitution’s provisional terms later this summer.

Limjaroenrat has vowed to get the Marriage Equality Act through the parliament after the early drafts of the law and related legislation was stalled in the last parliamentary session under the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha i, who has served as the Prime Minister of Thailand since he seized power in a military coup in 2014.

Limjaroenrat took part in the second annual LGBTQ Pride parade in Bangkok, June 4, 2023. “Once the government is formed we will support Marriage Equality (Act), Gender Identity (Act) and several others, including welfare,” Limjaroenrat told reporters at the parade.

In a Facebook post he noted: (Translated) Our country is driven by ‘love’, not ‘fear’.

• ‘Diversity’ is not a ‘weakness’, but a ‘strength’ of this country.

• love is love and love must win

• So #bangkokpride2023 It’s not just a month we come to celebrate. Not just a parade It’s about telling the world about the values we share.

• I want to tell everyone that When can we form a government? Law #Equality Marriage Passed immediately in 100 days because it was a common agenda that was already recorded in the MOU of the coalition government.

• But there are other policies that we will continue to push forward as management in various ministries. and as a legislative branch in the House of Representatives To create gender equality in Thai society.

• all based on “The way forward” is to see that “people are equal” no matter who you are. We all have equal human dignity. equality before the law and must receive public services from the state fairly and equally not being discriminated against just because of differences in race, color, creed, education level poor status Physical status, disability, age, and if someone is weak and falls