FORMER Move Forward leader and party-listed MP Pita Limjaroenrat urged the public to not focus on any possible comparison visiting German German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier might make after holding talks with both him and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Manager Online and Amarin TV said today (Jan. 26).
Speaking to reporters prior to attending a party meeting on the road map for 2024, Pita said photos of him meeting the German leader had circulated and that the German authorities had invited him but he was uncertain if Steinmeier had personally wanted to meet him.
Their meeting lasted 30-40 minutes with many issues discussed.
However reporters pointed out that during the press conference given by the German president and Srettha at the Government House yesterday the ITV shares case was mentioned and questioned whether a comparison would be made in later talks with him.
On Thursday the Constitutional Court’s panel of judges passed a majority verdict allowing Pita’s status as an MP to remain intact as no grounds were found that his holding just 00.0035% shares in non-operating ITV channel violated election regulations.
In reply, Pita said it is probably not like that with the German leader’s schedule during his visit to Thailand carefully balanced to hold meetings with the government, private sector and political parties including viewing art at Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).
“I myself had the opportunity to thank the German President for showing concern about the health of Thai democracy. I believe that even though it’s not my business, he would speak very well (about Thailand) because our relationship goes back 162 years,”
Asked whether this meeting took place to encourage him on the first day of returning to perform his duties as an MP, Pita said it was probably a coincidence but it was nevertheless an encouragement.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Former Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, left, and current Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon, right, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Insert: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier giving a press conference at the Government House yesterday, Jan. 25, 2024. Both photos: Matichon
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