50 MPs join Move Forward
>>Fifty former Future Forward Party (FFP) MPs have applied to join the Move Forward Party and voted Pita Limjaroenrat as the party leader.
At its first meeting at its Thon Buri coordination centre, the members chose the party’s 10 executives.
Chaithawat Tulathon, a former deputy secretary-general of FFP, was also voted secretary-general. Viroj Lakkana-adisorn, who exposed the army’s information operation against the people during the no-confidence debate, was elected party spokesman.
The new logo, described as two arrows pointing to the future, and its orange colour, representing sunrise, was approved.
Mr Pita thanked supporters and talked about the party’s plans.
“Move Forward is the new chapter of Future Forward. It will uphold its intentions, ideologies and spirit and will be the hope of desperate people in this country.
“We will bring the country back to democracy, end dictatorship and establish the rule of law under which everyone is equal.”
He pledged to continue with FFP’s policies of tackling structural problems.
“We’ll continue to push existing bills — those aimed at abolishing all NCPO orders and ending military draft to pave the way for military reform, as well as the new labour protection bill and liquor bill to end the industry’s monopoly.”
Above all, he said, the party will push for constitutional amendments to give people real power so elected bodies can speak for them.
“We will push for the end of appointed senators and the 20-year national strategy, as well as making sure independent organisations are linked to the people.”
The number of MPs who applied yesterday was lower than projected. Earlier, Mr Pita had said 55 would apply.
Of the missing five, one has already joined a coalition party. The Election Commission said on Friday list MP Julapan Nonsrichai had applied to join the Chartthaipattana Party.
After the Constitutional Court on Feb 21 disbanded Future Forward and disqualified its 11 executives over loans extended by former party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the party was left with 65 MPs, who must find a party to join within 60 days.
Eleven of them later joined coalition parties — Bhumjaithai (9), Chartthaipattana (1) and Chart Pattana Party (1), leaving 54 likely to join the new party.
Mr Pita, 39, holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Thammasat University. He holds a joint degree from Harvard University (Master of Public Policy) and MIT (Master of Business Administration), according to Parliament’s database.
He was formerly managing director of CEO Agrifood Co Ltd, a family’s business which manufactures and exports rice bran oil, and Great Ocean Food Co Ltd.
After his father died, he took over the family’s heavily indebted business and turned it around in three years.
Mr Pita is also a former executive director of Grab and is divorced with one daughter.