106 Facts About Pita Limjaroenrat

Pita Limjaroenrat further studied politics and business in the United States, having received various scholarships.

In 2019, Pita was approached by the pro-democracy Future Forward Party to be a party-list candidate for the 2019 general election.

Pita Limjaroenrat accepted and ultimately won a seat in the House of Representatives.

Pita Limjaroenrat resigned as leader of Move Forward in September 2023.

Pita Limjaroenrat was succeeded by Chaithawat Tulathon, but remained active in the party.

Pita Limjaroenrat subsequently supported and became a member of the reincarnation of Move Forward, the People's Party.

Pita Limjaroenrat was born in Bangkok on 5 September 1980, as the eldest of two children of Pongsak Limjaroenrat, who previously served as an adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Linda Limjaroenrat.

Pita Limjaroenrat's uncle, Padung Limjaroenrat, was a former secretary to the Interior Minister and closely associated with then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pita Limjaroenrat is of Chinese descent and has once mentioned that his surname was based on his family's original surname Lim.

Pita Limjaroenrat was living in Hamilton, staying with a middle-class host family, at the same time as future New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, with whom he would later attend Harvard University.

Pita Limjaroenrat graduated in 2002 with first-class honors and received a scholarship to study at the University of Texas at Austin.

Pita Limjaroenrat then earned an international student scholarship to Harvard University, making him the first Thai student to achieve this distinction.

Pita Limjaroenrat has expressed that his experiences at Harvard greatly influenced his political beliefs and future policy goals.

Pita Limjaroenrat continued his academic journey by completing a joint Master in Public Administration degree at the Harvard Kennedy School of Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration degree at the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2011.

At the age of 25, Pita Limjaroenrat returned to Thailand to take over as managing director of CEO Agrifood, a rice bran oil business run by his family, after the death of his father.

Pita Limjaroenrat had been laden with debt, but was able to regain its foothold two years after and allowed Pita to return to the United States where he finished his master's degree in 2011.

Pita Limjaroenrat served as the executive director of Grab Thailand from 2017 to 2018.

Pita Limjaroenrat aspired to become a politician since he was in his 20s.

Pita Limjaroenrat became a member of the Future Forward Party following an invitation from the party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

Pita Limjaroenrat ran as a candidate in the 2019 general election and was elected as the fourth party-list representative for his party in the House of Representatives.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leading the Move Forward Party, achieved a notable victory in the 2023 general election, securing the most seats.

Pita Limjaroenrat's goal was to win 160 out of the 400 constituency seats.

Pita Limjaroenrat reached out to the Pheu Thai Party and several smaller pro-democracy parties, proposing the formation of a coalition government.

Pita Limjaroenrat mentioned that his campaign strategies were inspired by Barack Obama's 2008 US presidential campaign.

However, despite the coalition's majority in the House, Pita Limjaroenrat needed the support of both elected MPs and unelected senators, who were appointed by the previous military junta, to be officially elected as prime minister.

Pita Limjaroenrat stated that he inherited the iTV shares from his father's estate.

Pita Limjaroenrat appealed to the assembly to support his government, in accordance with the mandate granted by the people in the general election.

The day before the parliamentary vote, Pita Limjaroenrat warned assembly members that there would be a "high price" if his premiership was denied.

Pita Limjaroenrat was nominated by Pheu Thai MP Suthin Klangsaeng, but the proposal was argued to have been against a parliamentary rule prohibiting a repeat motion.

At a public speaking event held more than a year later at the University of Melbourne, Pita Limjaroenrat said he that he actually had a plan to "lobby the upper house" to allow him to become prime minister before he was suspended from parliamentary duties.

Pita Limjaroenrat's reasoning was that he intended to become prime minister and that the PM position was simply a role to expand Thai democracy.

Pita Limjaroenrat remained under suspension as an MP, but initially signaled his support for a Pheu Thai party PM candidate.

On 20 August 2023, Pita Limjaroenrat began campaigning for the Move Forward party in the run-up to the by-election in Constituency 3 of Rayong Province, which was contested by the Move Forward, Democrat and Nation Building Labour party, following the resignation of the Move Forward MP elected there.

On 15 September 2023, Pita Limjaroenrat announced his resignation as Leader of the Move Forward Party.

Pita Limjaroenrat cited his inability to perform duties in the House, pending a ruling regarding his suspension status as an MP in the Constitutional Court, hindering his ability to become the Leader of the Opposition.

Pita Limjaroenrat reiterated he would remain active in Thai politics and the party, regardless of his role.

Pita Limjaroenrat was replaced by Secretary-General Chaithawat Tulathon as party leader.

Pita Limjaroenrat embarked on a visit to the United States in October 2023 to discuss the political situation in Thailand.

Pita Limjaroenrat spoke at various universities, and met with government officials from Australia, New Zealand, and the US.

Pita Limjaroenrat cited his work at Harvard partially for his ability to win the election, but criticized the political establishment for blocking him from power.

Pita Limjaroenrat received an honorary master's degree and lectured about Thailand and ASEAN at the Harvard Asia Center.

Pita Limjaroenrat apologized to the victims and reitarted Chaithawat's responsibility as party leader.

Pita Limjaroenrat believed he still had the legitimacy to lead Thailand, and predicted it could be two to three years before the next election depending on the government's performance.

Pita Limjaroenrat said he approved of some of the steps taken, but that there was work to be done, and that he hoped the government would provide a clear roadmap for 2024.

On Srettha's premiership, Pita Limjaroenrat argued his administration should be given more time to prove its ability to lead, while recommending adjustments in policy.

Pita Limjaroenrat was accused by the Election Commission of holding stocks in a media company and therefore violating Thailand's election laws; the argument being that Pita knowingly applied to run for office in 2019 and 2023 while holding stake in a media company.

Pita Limjaroenrat welcomed the opportunity to present evidence to the court, and said he was not worried.

Pita Limjaroenrat outlined Move Forward's six goals for the country the following day, which included a proposed amnesty bill for criminal cases that were political in nature.

Pita Limjaroenrat announced a total of 47 draft bills set to be introduced into the legislature, which included policies for military reforms, quality of life, and rural development.

Pita Limjaroenrat dismissed allegations that the party was not doing enough to scrutinize the government.

Shortly after his suspension was lifted, Pita Limjaroenrat met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during his visit to Thailand in January 2024.

Steinmeier commended the decision of the Court to clear Pita Limjaroenrat, saying it was a sign of democratic progress in the country.

In March 2024, Pita Limjaroenrat represented Thailand at the Inter-Parliamentary Union summit and joined the International Parliamentary Network for Education.

Pita Limjaroenrat addressed issues such as climate change and the importance of inclusivity in societies.

In late December, Chaithawat Tulathon said he would be ready to resign as party leader were Pita Limjaroenrat to be acquitted, believing most party members would support Pita Limjaroenrat for the position at the party's upcoming general meeting in April 2024.

In February 2024 MFP spokesperson Parit Wacharasindhu stated Pita Limjaroenrat was still eligible for the position if he were to be acquitted on any charges he was currently facing.

Pita Limjaroenrat believed the case damaged free speech and the health of Thai democracy, while Chaithawat stated the ruling changed the definition of a constitutional monarchy.

Pita Limjaroenrat continued to criticize the Pheu Thai party, and believed some of their voters would be unable to trust them by the next election.

Pita Limjaroenrat continued to lay out the party's nine-point defense plan in various press conferences, and argued the Court had no jurisdiction over party dissolutions.

Pita Limjaroenrat later spoke at the Regional Conference on Climate Resilience of Southeast Asia.

Pita Limjaroenrat remained confident in the days and weeks leading up the verdict, believing judicial precedent would help the party's case.

Pita Limjaroenrat compared possibly dissolving Move Forward to effectively 'dissolving the opposition' in Thai democracy.

Pita Limjaroenrat warned of instability were the verdict not to be in the party's favor, warning that Srettha's premiership and the stability of the Thai economy could be put in jeopardy.

Pita Limjaroenrat predicted that were Move Forward to be dissolved following a court ruling, its successor would win in a landslide at the next elections.

Pita Limjaroenrat believed that there was a possibility he would become Prime Minister by 2027.

Pita Limjaroenrat said that were he to be banned the party dissolved, he hoped it would be the last time such an event would occur in the history of Thai democracy.

Shortly after the verdict was delivered, Pita Limjaroenrat returned to party headquarters for a final press conference.

Pita Limjaroenrat stated that he was proud of what the party had been able to achieve and that he "had no regrets".

Pita Limjaroenrat vowed that the decision would not mean the end of his own political career, and that the party would continue under a 'new vehicle'.

Pita Limjaroenrat said he would continue to engage in politics as a private citizen.

Pita Limjaroenrat named Sirikanya Tansakun, as the presumed leader of this new hypothetical party, billing her as a counterweight to Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Pita Limjaroenrat threw his support behind the party and its new leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, who was elected unopposed.

The fellowship was reported as lasting two semesters; Pita Limjaroenrat stated he said he was inspired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in taking up the dual fellowships at a school of public policy and government.

Pita Limjaroenrat said he would split his time between Boston and Bangkok, where his daughter still attends school.

Pita Limjaroenrat has been described as a progressive by the standards of Thai politics.

Pita Limjaroenrat's Move Forward Party, which he led from 2020 to 2023, was referred to as center-left, reformist, pro-democratic, and progressive.

Pita Limjaroenrat described their vision as "three Ds": demilitarise, decentralise, and demonopolise.

Pita Limjaroenrat has frequently referred to the years between 2014 and 2023 as "the lost decade" of Thailand, in regards to both economics and democratic backsliding.

Pita Limjaroenrat believes the Thai armed services have too much influence in civilian politics, and has vowed to decrease their influence.

Pita Limjaroenrat has promised that his party would amend the controversial Royal defamation law, which protects the Thai monarchy from public criticism.

On economic policy, Pita Limjaroenrat believes in the demonopolization, and decentralization of the economy.

Pita Limjaroenrat thinks aspects of a welfare state are needed in Thailand, with the welfare being 'funded from demilitarization'.

Pita Limjaroenrat has said he would liberalize Thailand's liquor industry.

Pita Limjaroenrat disagreed with the Srettha government's proposed digital wallet scheme, preferring small economic stimulus projects instead.

Pita Limjaroenrat criticized the government's response to forest fires in Chiang Mai in March 2024.

Pita Limjaroenrat described the detention of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as political persecution, while believing his treatment was evidence of double standards in Thailand's justice system.

In February 2024, Pita Limjaroenrat hosted a solidarity dinner on behalf of the Move Forward party with other opposition parties, including The Democrats.

Pita Limjaroenrat supports diverting money from the military budget to fight climate change.

Pita Limjaroenrat supported the Thai government's same-sex marriage bill that was passed in 2024, believing it was one of the few things Move Forward and Pheu Thai agreed on.

Pita Limjaroenrat believes same-sex couples should have the right to raise a family and adopt children.

Pita Limjaroenrat has centered his foreign policy on his "3Rs", 'Revive, Rebalance, and Recalibrate'.

Pita Limjaroenrat stated that Thailand should be more assertive on the global stage and open more dialogue with greater powers, and that democratic values should be the core of Thailand's foreign policy.

Pita Limjaroenrat believes Thailand should ratify the Rome Statue, which would make it a member party of the International Criminal Court.

Pita Limjaroenrat condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine calling the Thai government's response "two-faced".

Pita Limjaroenrat advised the Prayut government to stop purchasing Chinese vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pita Limjaroenrat celebrated Taiwan's National Day at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in October 2023, despite the lack of government representatives.

Chutima publicly alleged that Pita Limjaroenrat had been controlling and abusing her during their marriage.

Women's rights and pro-democracy activists called for Pita Limjaroenrat to respond to the allegations.

Chutima filed a lawsuit against Pita Limjaroenrat alleging bodily abuse, but it was dismissed as false by the family court.

Pita Limjaroenrat suffers from epilepsy, first discovering he had it when he was living in Boston during his years at Harvard.

Pita Limjaroenrat says he uses recreational marijuana to help treat the disorder.

Pita Limjaroenrat has been described as "charismatic", and is known for his optimism.

Pita Limjaroenrat enjoys rock music, particularly bands such as Coldplay, Metallica, and Radiohead among others.

In December 2023, it was reported that Pita Limjaroenrat had inadvertently leaked the tracklist of the debut album of K-pop group Babymonster, when he posted photos from inside YG Entertainment studios on Instagram during a trip to South Korea.

Pita Limjaroenrat was the only Thai who had been selected on the list in 2023.

Pita Limjaroenrat attended the TIME 100 Next gala night in New York on 24 October 2023.