The Thai parliament has become a fortress today (Thursday), with about 40 cargo containers being placed at the entrance, exit and around the building, while barriers have been erected on roads to cope with supporters of the Move Forward party, who are expected to turn up in droves late this afternoon to offer moral support to party leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

Two water cannon and two water trucks, plus a truck equipped with loud speakers, have been put on standby in the parliament compound.

A 50m radius around parliament has been declared off-limits by police to unauthorised people, including demonstrators, until midnight Friday.

Numerous vendors have set up shop on pavements near the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Kiak Kai administrative centre, selling hats, umbrellas, water canteens and pillows, bearing the orange symbol of the Move Forward party or the image of Pita.

Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha told the media, before the joint sitting of parliament began, that most senators have already decided how they will vote today “which is to abstain.”

He said he believes 10 senators, at most, will vote to approve Pita’s prime ministerial candidacy.

The senator told the media to watch out for July 19^th, when the second joint sitting is to be convened to select the prime minister, saying that the issue is expected to be finalised then, while admitting that he has no idea whether the prime minister will be a man or a woman or whether the people will be happy or not.