Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit restated his belief today that the Pheu Thai-led coalition parties were robbed of victory in the election of the prime minister on Wednesday because of the influence of the junta-appointed Senate.

Noting that the presence of 250 senators in parliament had a direct impact on the decision-making of parties, he cited Democrat party leader Jurin Laksanavisit’s statement that, as a matter of fact, the anti-junta alliance would not be able to form a government because of the 250 senators.

500 members of both houses (251 MPs and 249 senators) voted for Prayut against the 244 MPs who voted in favor of Thanathorn.

He believes that the majority of the Thai people are not satisfied with the election of General Prayut as the next prime minister because it does not reflect the wishes of the people.

Thanathorn also dismissed the contention that the senators are independent, pointing at the way all bar one of them voted in favor of General Prayut. The exception was vice president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, who chaired the meeting and opted out of the voting to maintain his neutrality.

The Future Forward party leader called on the public to keep a close watch on court proceedings of the 41 MPs of the Palang Pracharat-led alliance, who are suspected of holding media shares, to see whether the Constitutional Court will apply the same standard used against him.

Having been suspended from his duties as an MP by the court, Thanathorn said he would now focus on reaching out to the people, meeting with them and listening to their problems so they can be brought for discussion in parliament.