UPDATE 3 - Thai parliament delays next round of voting to choose country’s premier

REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, ADDS DATE FOR NEXT ROUND OF VOTING

By Riyaz ul Khaliq, Necva Tastan and Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Thailand’s parliament has delayed its next round of voting to choose the country’s 30th prime minister until next week, a top lawmaker said Wednesday.

The move comes after leading candidate Pita Limjaroenrat vacated his parliament seat following orders from the Constitutional Court, which suspended him from the legislature pending an inquiry into his shares in a media firm.

The next round of voting will be held on July 27, said House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, according to Bangkok-based Khaosod News.

“Thailand has experienced changes since (the elections on) May 14, and the people have achieved half of their victory,” Pita, the head of the Move Forward Party (MFP), told parliament after receiving the order from the top court to vacate the seat.

"Even though I’m not carrying out my duties (as MP), I’m asking my fellow MPs to look after the people," he said.

"May I use this opportunity to say goodbye, until we meet again.”

Pita failed last week to garner the minimum amount of support needed to become the country’s 30th chief executive.

He has 15 days to appeal the court order.

However, he failed to be renominated for the prime minister’s post after a motion was moved today.

After over eight hours of debate, 395 of 715 parliamentarians voted against Pita's renomination, with 312 supporting it and eight others abstaining.

Ahead of the first vote held last week, Thailand's election authority sought action against the frontrunner over allegations that he hid his shares in a media outlet.

Pita was elected a lawmaker in May elections and his MFP party won 151 seats in the 500-seat lower house of parliament.

His party called the election authority's move to approach the top court "unfair."

The election body has rejected the assertion.

- Election for next premier

The newly elected lawmakers, along with 249 senators, were scheduled to vote on Wednesday to elect Thailand's 30th prime minister.

Pita, who is leading an eight-party coalition, failed to get the minimum 375 votes in the first round held last week.

He was the sole contender for the post after he was nominated by Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew during a joint sitting of the bicameral parliament. Some 302 lawmakers backed the nomination.

The coalition candidate got only 324 votes at the joint session, falling short of the majority he needed.

At least 182 lawmakers voted against Pita while 199 others abstained.

A total of 705 lawmakers cast their ballot, including, crucially, members of the junta-appointed Senate.

Initially commanding the support of 312 lawmakers in his coalition, Pita received only 12 votes from other parties.

Thailand's parliament -- consisting of 500 elected lawmakers and 250 senators -- voted during the election for the prime minister's post in the joint session. One of the senators had resigned ahead of the vote.