Can Thailand’s Pita succeed in a second PM vote?

BANGKOK, July 18 (Reuters) – Thailand’s parliament will hold a second vote on a new prime minister on Wednesday, more than two months since the liberal Move Forward Party’s surprise election triumph over rivals allied with the military.

An eight-party alliance has pledged its backing for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, despite his defeat in the first vote on July 13.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE VOTE?

Pita was unopposed but could not get the requisite backing of more than half of the bicameral legislature comprising an elected lower house and an appointed Senate.

Though about 60% of the lower house supported him, he was thwarted by the mainly conservative Senate, whose members were chosen by a…