Pita Limjaroenrat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pita Limjaroenrat
|
|
|---|---|
|
พิธา ลิ้มเจริญรัตน์
|
|
Pita in 2023
|
|
| Leader of the Move Forward Party | |
| In office 14 March 2020 – 23 September 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (Future Forward Party) |
| Succeeded by | Chaithawat Tulathon |
| Advisory Chair of the Move Forward Party | |
| In office 23 September 2023 – 7 August 2024 |
|
| 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 |
|
| Constituency | Party-list |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 September 1980 Bangkok, Thailand |
| Political party | Future Forward (2018–2020) Move Forward (2020–2024) |
| Other political affiliations |
Progressive Movement (2024–present) |
| Spouse |
Chutima Teepanart
(m. 2012; div. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
|
| Nickname | Tim |
Pita Limjaroenrat (Thai: พิธา ลิ้มเจริญรัตน์; born 5 September 1980), also known as Tim, is a Thai businessman and former politician. He was a member of Thailand's House of Representatives. From 2020 to 2023, he was the leader of the Move Forward Party.
Pita was educated in New Zealand and the United States. He studied finance, politics, and business. When he returned to Thailand, he took over his family's rice bran oil company. Later, he entered politics with the pro-democracy Future Forward Party. He won a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2019 general election. When the Future Forward Party was dissolved in 2020, Pita became the leader of the new Move Forward Party.
In the 2023 general election, Pita led the Move Forward Party to a big victory. They won the most seats, and he planned to become the next prime minister. However, he did not get enough votes from the National Assembly, which includes the Senate.
Later, the Constitutional Court suspended him as a Member of Parliament (MP). This was because of shares he owned in a media company that was no longer active. The Move Forward Party eventually became the main opposition party. In August 2024, the court dissolved the Move Forward Party. Pita and other party leaders were banned from politics for ten years. He then became a member of the new People's Party and started a fellowship at Harvard University.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Pita Limjaroenrat was born in Bangkok on 5 September 1980. His father, Pongsak Limjaroenrat, was an adviser to the Minister of Agriculture. His uncle, Padung Limjaroenrat, was a secretary to the Interior Minister.
Pita started school at Bangkok Christian College. When he was 11, he moved to Hamilton, New Zealand. There, he attended St John's College. He lived with a host family and had part-time jobs like delivering newspapers. He became interested in politics by watching parliamentary debates on TV.
After high school, Pita returned to Thailand. He studied finance at Thammasat University and graduated with first-class honors. He won a scholarship to study at the University of Texas at Austin. He later received another scholarship to Harvard University, becoming the first Thai student to do so.
He earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard and a Master's in Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2011.
Business Career
When Pita was 25, his father passed away. He returned to Thailand to become the managing director of his family's rice bran oil company, CEO Agrifood. The company was in debt, but Pita helped it recover within two years. This allowed him to go back to the U.S. to finish his master's degree.
From 2017 to 2018, he was also the executive director of Grab Thailand.
Political Journey
Becoming a Politician
Pita wanted to be a politician from a young age. He joined the Future Forward Party after its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, invited him. He ran in the 2019 election and won a seat in the House of Representatives.
In July 2019, he gave a well-known speech in the House about the "Five-Button Theory." He talked about important farming policies like land ownership, farmers' debts, and water resources. His speech was praised by politicians from different parties.
When the Future Forward Party was dissolved in 2020, Pita became the leader of the new Move Forward Party. He and 54 other MPs from the old party joined the new one.
The 2023 General Election
Pita led the Move Forward Party to a surprise victory in the 2023 election, winning 151 seats. This was the highest number of seats for any party. Many people had expected the Pheu Thai Party to win.
After the win, Pita announced he was ready to be prime minister. He formed a coalition with other pro-democracy parties. On 22 May, the coalition announced its main goals. These included writing a new constitution, making military service voluntary, and legalizing same-sex marriage.
To become prime minister, Pita needed support from both the elected House of Representatives and the unelected Senate. The senators had been appointed by a previous military government.
Trying to Form a Government
On 12 July 2023, the Constitutional Court accepted a case against Pita and his party. The case was about their plan to change the lèse-majesté law, which protects the monarchy from criticism. The Election Commission said this plan was an attempt to overthrow the government.
On 13 July, the National Assembly voted for the new prime minister. Pita was the only candidate. He did not get enough votes to win, mostly because he lacked support from the Senate. He received 324 votes but needed 375. Many people protested the result, saying it was undemocratic.
On 19 July, the Constitutional Court suspended Pita from his duties as an MP. This was because of an investigation into his ownership of shares in a defunct media company called iTV. On the same day, the National Assembly blocked his second nomination for prime minister.
Suspension and Party Dissolution
After being blocked, Pita could not run for prime minister again. The Move Forward Party's coalition partner, the Pheu Thai Party, then formed a new government with other parties. Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party became prime minister.
On 15 September 2023, Pita resigned as leader of the Move Forward Party. He said his suspension prevented him from being an effective Leader of the Opposition. He was replaced by Chaithawat Tulathon. Pita remained active in the party and in politics.
On 24 January 2024, the Constitutional Court cleared Pita in the iTV shares case. This meant he could return to his role as an MP. He officially returned to Parliament the next day.
However, the party faced another court case. It was accused of trying to overthrow the monarchy with its plan to change the lèse-majesté law. On 7 August 2024, the court ruled against the party. It ordered the Move Forward Party to be dissolved. Pita and other party leaders were banned from politics for ten years.
After Politics
After the court's decision, Pita said he was proud of what his party had accomplished. He promised to stay involved in politics as a private citizen. The remaining 143 MPs from Move Forward formed a new party called the People's Party. Pita supported the new party and its leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.
In late August 2024, Pita began a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School. He said it was a chance to share his experiences with leadership and democracy.
In May 2025, Pita released a memoir called The Almost Prime Minister. The book is about the 2023 election and his effort to become prime minister.
Political Views
.jpg)
Pita is known as a progressive politician. He and his party wanted to make three big changes in Thailand: demilitarize, decentralize, and demonopolize. This means reducing the military's power in politics, giving more power to local governments, and breaking up large business monopolies.
He has said that the military has too much influence in politics. He also supported changing the lèse-majesté law, which protects the monarchy. He believes the royal family should be a symbol of national unity but stay out of politics.
On the economy, Pita wanted to help the 99% of people, not just the top 1%. He supported creating a stronger welfare system. He also supports legalizing same-sex marriage and making military service voluntary.
In foreign policy, Pita wanted Thailand to be more active on the world stage. He believes democratic values should guide Thailand's relationships with other countries. He supports a strong alliance with the United States and wants Thailand to be more involved in ASEAN.
Personal Life
Pita was married to actress Chutima Teepanart from 2012 to 2019. They have one daughter named Pipim.
Pita is often described as charismatic and optimistic. In 2024, The Washington Post called him "arguably Thailand's most popular politician." Polls taken in late 2023 and 2024 showed he was the most popular choice for prime minister among the Thai people.
In addition to his native Thai, Pita speaks English.
Images for kids
-
A statement from the Constitutional Court clearing Pita, which allowed him to return to Parliament.
-
Pita meets with the press upon his return to Parliament on 25 January 2024.
-
Pita with party leader Chaithawat Tulathon in December 2023.
-
Pita explains the party's defense against dissolution on 9 June 2024.
-
Pita meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert Godec in 2023.
-
Memorabilia of Pita, pictured in May 2023.
-
Pita Limjaroenrat speaking with VOA News in Washington D.C.
See also
In Spanish: Pita Limjaroenrat para niños
