Pita Limjaroenrat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pita Limjaroenrat
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พิธา ลิ้มเจริญรัตน์
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Pita in October 2023
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| Leader of the Move Forward Party | |
| In office 14 March 2020 – 23 September 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (Future Forward Party; de facto) |
| Succeeded by | Chaithawat Tulathon |
| Advisory Chair of the Move Forward Party | |
| In office 23 September 2023 – 7 August 2024 |
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| Leader | Chaithawat Tulathon |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 24 March 2019 – 7 August 2024 |
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| Constituency | Party-list |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 September 1980 Bangkok, Thailand |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Chutima Teepanart
(m. 2012; div. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
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| Nickname | Tim (ทิม) |
Pita Limjaroenrat (born 5 September 1980), also known as Tim, is a Thai businessman and politician. He used to be a member of the House of Representatives. He also led the Move Forward Party from 2020 to 2023. This party took over from the Future Forward Party. After that, he was an advisory chair for the party until 2024.
Pita studied in New Zealand and later in Thailand, focusing on finance. He also studied politics and business in the United States with scholarships. In 2005, he returned to Thailand. He took over his family's rice bran oil company and helped it grow. After getting his master's degree, he continued his work in business.
In 2019, the Future Forward Party asked Pita to join them for the general elections. He agreed and won a seat in the House of Representatives. When the Future Forward Party was dissolved in 2020, Pita was chosen to lead the new Move Forward Party.
Pita led the Move Forward Party to win the most seats (151) in the 2023 general election. He planned to become prime minister. However, he did not get enough votes from the Senate in July 2023. Later, he was suspended from his MP duties by the Constitutional Court. His second attempt to become prime minister was also blocked.
The Move Forward Party later joined the opposition. Pita resigned as party leader in September 2023. Chaithawat Tulathon took over, but Pita stayed active in the party. In January 2024, the Constitutional Court cleared him of wrongdoing. This allowed him to return as a Member of Parliament. On 7 August 2024, the Move Forward Party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court. Pita and other party leaders were banned from politics for ten years. He then joined the People's Party, which is a new version of Move Forward. Later that month, he started a fellowship at Harvard University.
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Who is Pita Limjaroenrat?
Pita Limjaroenrat is a well-known politician from Thailand. He was born on 5 September 1980. He is often called "Tim" by his friends and supporters. He has a background in business and has worked to improve Thailand's economy and political system.
His Early Life and Education
Pita was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He is the oldest son of Pongsak Limjaroenrat and Linda Limjaroenrat. His father was an advisor to the Minister of Agriculture. His uncle, Padung Limjaroenrat, was a close helper to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Studying in New Zealand and the US
Pita first went to Bangkok Christian College. When he was 11, his father sent him to Hamilton, New Zealand. He lived with a local family and did small jobs like delivering newspapers. He became interested in politics by watching parliamentary debates on TV. He listened to speeches by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jim Bolger.
After finishing school in New Zealand, Pita returned to Thailand. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Thammasat University in 2002. He graduated with top honors. He then received a scholarship to study at the University of Texas at Austin in the US. While in Austin, he watched the 2000 US presidential election. This experience shaped his political views.
He later received a special scholarship from Harvard University. He was the first Thai student to get this scholarship. Pita says his time at Harvard greatly influenced his political ideas. In 2006, he joined then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at a UN meeting in New York. A military coup happened in Thailand while they were away. This forced Thaksin to leave the country.
Pita finished two master's degrees in 2011. He earned one in public administration from Harvard University. He also got a master's in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
His Career Before Politics
When Pita was 25, his father passed away. He returned to Thailand to become the managing director of CEO Agrifood. This was his family's rice bran oil business. The company was in debt, but Pita helped it recover in two years. This allowed him to go back to the US to finish his master's degree.
From 2017 to 2018, he also worked as an executive director for Grab Thailand.
Becoming a Politician
Pita wanted to be a politician since his twenties. He joined the Future Forward Party after being invited by its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. He ran in the 2019 general election. He won a seat as a party-list representative in the House of Representatives.
In July 2019, Pita gave a speech in Parliament about his "Five-Button Theory." His speech was praised by many, including the Interior Minister.
Leading the Move Forward Party
The Future Forward Party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in February 2020. Pita was then chosen to lead the new Move Forward Party. He and 54 other former Members of Parliament joined this new party. Pita was officially elected as the leader of the Move Forward Party on 14 March 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pita criticized the government. He said their plan for getting vaccines was not good enough. In October 2021, he confirmed he would be the party's choice for prime minister in the next election.
The 2023 Election and Prime Minister Bid
Pita led the Move Forward Party to a big win in the 2023 general election. They won 151 seats, which was more than expected. Many thought the Pheu Thai party would win. After the victory, on 15 May 2023, Pita said he was ready to be prime minister. He talked with Pheu Thai and other smaller parties to form a coalition government.
On 22 May, Pita and his partners held a press conference. They talked about creating a new constitution and reforming the military. They also wanted to make military service voluntary and legalize same-sex marriage. Pita said his campaign ideas were inspired by Barack Obama's 2008 US presidential campaign.
Challenges to Becoming Prime Minister
Even though his coalition had a majority in the House, Pita needed support from both elected MPs and unelected senators. These senators were appointed by the previous military government.
On 9 June, the Election Commission looked into complaints against Pita. These complaints were about his ownership of shares in a company called iTV. The constitution says that people who own shares in media companies cannot run in elections. The Election Commission started an investigation to see if Pita broke election rules.
Pita explained that he inherited the iTV shares from his father. iTV stopped broadcasting in 2007. Pita said the company had not made much money from media in years. Despite the investigation, Pita was officially approved as an MP on 19 June. On 27 June, he said he had enough support from the Senate to become prime minister.
Suspension and Return to Parliament
On 12 July, the Constitutional Court accepted a complaint against Pita and the Move Forward Party. The complaint said their plan to change lèse-majesté (royal insult) laws was an attempt to "overthrow the democratic government." Pita said the process was unfair because he could not defend himself.
On 13 July, the National Assembly met to elect a new prime minister. Pita was the only candidate. Even though his party won the most votes, he did not get enough support from the assembly. He needed 375 votes but only got 324. Many senators, who were appointed by the military, did not vote for him. This led to protests. Pita said he would still try to become prime minister.
On 19 July, the Constitutional Court voted to suspend Pita from his MP duties. This was because of the iTV shares case. Pita accepted the decision and left the chamber. The National Assembly then voted against letting him be nominated for prime minister again. Pita later said he had a plan to get support from the Senate before he was suspended.
Pita could not run for prime minister again until after the next general election. He said he would not become the leader of the opposition. He wanted to be prime minister to help Thai democracy grow. On 2 August 2023, Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties split. Pheu Thai formed a new coalition without Move Forward. This was because Move Forward refused to drop its promise to reform the royal insult law.
On 22 August, Srettha Thavisin from Pheu Thai became prime minister. All Move Forward members voted against him. Pita called Srettha to congratulate him.
On 15 September 2023, Pita announced he was resigning as Leader of the Move Forward Party. He said he could not do his job as leader of the opposition while suspended. He stressed that the opposition leader must challenge the government. Pita said he would stay active in politics. Chaithawat Tulathon became the new party leader on 23 September.
During his suspension, Pita visited the United States in October 2023. He spoke at universities and met with government officials. He returned to Harvard Kennedy School to share his experiences. He said his time at Harvard helped him win the election. He also criticized the political system for blocking him from power.
The verdict for Pita's iTV case was set for 24 January 2024. He was accused of holding shares in a media company while running for office. Pita said the shares were inherited from his father and the company was no longer active. He transferred the shares to his relatives. Pita was confident he would receive justice.
On 24 January 2024, the Constitutional Court cleared Pita of any wrongdoing. This allowed him to return to Parliament. He said he hoped to return "as soon as possible." He officially returned on 25 January. He outlined Move Forward's goals, including military reforms and improving quality of life. He did not mention reforming the royal insult law this time.
On 5 February, Pita and seven other politicians received a suspended prison sentence. This was for a rally held in 2019. They were fined, and Pita appealed the decision. If the appeal failed, it could disqualify him from Parliament.
Pita said he was "ready, willing, and able" to lead the country if needed. The party leader, Chaithawat, said he would step down if Pita could return to his MP role. However, no leadership election was held in April 2024. Pita remained eligible to be nominated for prime minister.
The Dissolution of Move Forward Party
Pita and the Move Forward Party were also involved in another court case. They were accused of trying to overthrow the monarchy by wanting to reform the royal insult law. If found guilty, the party could be dissolved. Pita denied this possibility. The court ruled on 31 January that the party's campaign promise was unlawful. They ordered the party to stop related activities.
This ruling made it possible for the Election Commission to ask for the party's dissolution. This could also ban Pita and other party leaders from politics for up to 10 years. Pita believed the case harmed free speech and democracy. The Election Commission officially asked the Constitutional Court to disband the party on 12 March. The court accepted the petition on 3 April 2024. Pita called this a "judicial soft-coup" and an attack on democracy.
The party was given more time to prepare their defense. Pita said the party wanted a balance between protecting the monarchy and allowing freedom of speech. He warned that dissolving the party would only increase calls for reform. He also criticized the court for "overreaching." He said banning the party would be "disproportionate" and "an attack on democracy."
The court's decision was postponed for months. Pita and the party remained popular with the public. In July, Pita accused the Constitutional Court of "double standards." On 17 July, the court set the verdict date for 7 August 2024. Pita remained confident. He said the party might avoid dissolution based on a technicality.
Pita said that dissolving Move Forward would be like "dissolving the opposition" in Thai democracy. He admitted there were plans to set up a new party if needed. He also criticized the current prime minister, Srettha Thavisin. On 1 August, Pita wrote an article to explain his position to an international audience. He met with diplomats from 18 countries.
On 7 August 2024, the Constitutional Court dissolved the Move Forward Party. Pita, along with other senior party leaders, was banned from politics for 10 years.
A New Political Path
Many countries criticized the court's decision. After the verdict, Pita held a final press conference. He said he was proud of the party's achievements and had "no regrets." Pita promised that this would not be the end of his political journey. He said the party would continue under a "new vehicle." He also said he would stay involved in politics as a private citizen.
Before Move Forward was dissolved, a new party was ready to be formed. On 9 August, the People's Party of Thailand was created. It is the direct successor to the dissolved Move Forward Party. All 143 MPs who remained in Parliament joined the new party. This made it the largest opposition party. Pita supported the new party and its new leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.
What Pita Believes In
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Pita is seen as a progressive politician in Thailand. His Move Forward Party is known for being center-left and wanting reforms. They support democracy and progress.
Pita often calls the years between 2014 and 2023 "the lost decade" for Thailand. He believes the Thai military has too much power in politics. He has promised to reduce their influence. Pita also wants to change the controversial royal defamation law. He believes the Thai royal family should be above politics.
On economic policy, Pita wants to end monopolies. He also believes in spreading economic power away from the capital. He thinks Thailand needs some aspects of a welfare state. He has also said he would make it easier to produce and sell liquor.
Pita supports legalizing same-sex marriage. He has attended pride parades in Bangkok. He also believes that military service should be voluntary.
Pita's foreign policy focuses on "3Rs": Revive, Rebalance, and Recalibrate. He wants Thailand to be more active on the global stage. He believes democratic values should guide Thailand's foreign policy. He thinks the 2014 military coup may have isolated Thailand from Western allies like the United States. Pita has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He also celebrated Taiwan's National Day in October 2023.
Pita has said he is inspired by former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. He compares politics to a marathon, saying he has "the stamina to run for a long time." He also looks up to US Senator Bernie Sanders and former Uruguayan President José Mujica.
His Personal Life
Pita married actress Chutima Teepanart in December 2012. They divorced in March 2019. They have one daughter named Pipim.
Pita is known for being "charismatic" and optimistic. In 2024, The Washington Post called him "arguably Thailand’s most popular politician." He enjoys rock music, especially bands like Coldplay, Metallica, and Radiohead. In December 2023, it was reported that Pita accidentally leaked the tracklist of a K-pop group's album. This happened when he posted photos from a studio in South Korea. He later deleted the photo.
Besides Thai, Pita also speaks English.
See also
In Spanish: Pita Limjaroenrat para niños
