It's five months since his reformist party, Move Forward, defied expectations and came top in Thailand's elections. It's been quite the rollercoaster since: legal cases were filed against him and the party, he was blocked from taking office by rivals, and he has been suspended as an MP.
Yet Pita continues touring the country to keep up the political momentum - going anywhere "except Government House", where his access has been revoked. He has been met by supporters who feel "anger, frustration, with tears on their cheeks", he said. "They say they are by my side and they can wait for four more years," he added, referring to the next election.
Pita says he wants to run again. He believes he can still become prime minister, yet he is also prepared for worst-case scenarios - including the possibility of a ban from politics, or his party being dissolved. "We are a movement and the party is simply a vehicle," he said. "We will continue this journey regardless of the outcome?"
Pita points out that time is on his party's side. At 43, he is younger than many of his rivals, including the military generals who have dominated Thai politics for the past decade.
This story is from the October 20, 2023 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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This story is from the October 20, 2023 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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