The leader of Thailand’s election-winning Move Forward Party has encountered fresh obstacles in his bid to become prime minister. A court has suspended him as a lawmaker, and his rivals have launched a parliamentary challenge to prevent his nomination.

Pita Limjaroenrat, a U.S.-educated liberal, faces a difficult path towards the top job. He needs the support of more than half of the bicameral parliament and must overcome strong opposition from a royalist military that opposes his party’s anti-establishment goals.

The legislature convened on Wednesday for Pita’s second attempt at the prime ministerial position. However, his rivals quickly moved to derail his nomination by questioning the parliamentary rule under which he was nominated by his eight-party alliance.

As a lengthy debate unfolded, the Constitutional Court announced separately that Pita had been temporarily suspended as a lawmaker. The suspension stems from an allegation that he violated election rules by holding shares in a media firm, marking the second complaint against him in six days.

Despite the suspension, Pita can still run for premier. In an interview with Reuters, he anticipated facing “pre-planned” obstacles and likened the military’s attempts to hinder him to a “broken record”.

Thailand has been under a caretaker administration since March. Move Forward’s victory in the May 14 election, which was widely seen as a rejection of nine years of military-controlled government, has yet to be fully realized.

During the session, Pita acknowledged the court’s suspension order, stating, “Thailand is not the same since May 14. We have come halfway from the people’s victory and there is another half to go.” His statement received fist-bumps and applause from the house.

Wednesday’s events mark the latest development in a two-decade power struggle in Thailand between elected parties and conservatives, including the military. This battle has involved political bans, court interventions, two coups, and occasionally violent street protests.

Hundreds of Pita’s supporters gathered peacefully in Bangkok to protest against the efforts to stop him. Some carried signs denouncing senators for refusing to support him.

The progressive Move Forward Party ran a disruptive election campaign, effectively using social media to target and win over millions of urban and young voters. They promised bold institutional reforms to challenge the conservative status quo.

However, this agenda has put the party on a collision course with powerful conservative interests. This is evident through the legal cases against Pita and the determined efforts by rival legislators from the outgoing, army-backed government to prevent him from assuming power.

The country’s constitution, drafted by the military after a 2014 coup and skewed in its favor, ensured that Pita was blocked in the first vote by the army-appointed Senate. The Senate acts as a barrier against elected politicians and can effectively impede attempts to form governments.

Lawmakers were still debating the challenge to Pita’s nomination late into the afternoon on Wednesday. Some called for it to be voided, while his allies worked to proceed with the planned prime ministerial vote.

This contest is expected to be Pita’s last, as he has pledged to step aside if he fails in order to allow his coalition partner and political heavyweight Pheu Thai to field its prime ministerial candidate in the next round.

Pita expressed his thoughts on the situation during the debate, posting on Instagram, “It is now clear that in the current system, winning public approval is not enough to run the country, but we need approval from the Senate too. And maybe there is not enough support for my name to be nominated for the second time.”