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The Almost Prime Minister
  • Published: 15 September 2026
  • ISBN: 9789815368994
  • Imprint: PRH SEA
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
Categories:

The Almost Prime Minister



A reflection on hope, heartbreak, resilience, and the fight for a future where people, not power, come first

This is a political memoir—a record of my political journey that has never been told anywhere before.

A story of an obstructed victory on a journey of no backing down. It is also the tale of a nation whose people are striving to change their own future.

Over the past year, as I've travelled—whether to Harvard, across Europe, or in other global arenas—I was often asked, with puzzled expressions:

'What exactly happened in Thai politics?'
'You won the election, so why are you in Boston?'

And after telling the same story over and over, friends and students abroad gave me a nickname: 'The Almost Prime Minister'.
Because I am the one chosen by the people, but I never became Prime Minister. I was stuck in between—between the hopes of millions, and the wall of the deep state that tightly blocks the public consensus.

This book tells the story from 'Dissolution of Parliament to Dissolution of the Party'. It's about the day the people decided to choose Change, leading to a triumph at the ballot box, and the confrontation with 'legal warfare' and various 'anti-majority mechanisms' that obstructed the will of the people, ultimately leading to the downfall of the party they trusted. It's a path filled with tests of faith, proof of commitment to principles, and a vital lesson in Thai democracy during a time of transition.

Though this book is told from a personal perspective, I affirm that it is far from being just my story. Because this is the story of all of us—of over 14 million citizens who ignited a historic spark of hope, hoping to see Thailand move forward in a better direction, toward a complete democracy, a country where everyone has a future, with dignity and equal opportunity. I understand well that this journey may have left many feeling exhausted, disappointed, and full of questions. But one thing we have never lost is the word 'hope’.

Even though Thai politics remains complex and often seems without a way out, every smile, every encouragement, and every bit of faith from the people is the fuel that keeps me—and all of us—moving forward without giving up. So this book is not just a political memoir, but a testament to the efforts we made together, a snapshot of a
moment when history nearly changed course, and a reminder that—no matter what the future holds, if we continue to stand together, the word 'Almost' will be crossed out, and we will reach the finish line...and change this country together.

  • Published: 15 September 2026
  • ISBN: 9789815368994
  • Imprint: PRH SEA
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
Categories:

About the author

Pita Limjaroenrat

Born on September 5, 1980, in Bangkok, Pita Limjaroenrat holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the International Program at the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University. He later earned a joint master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and Business Administration from MIT Sloan School of Management in the United States. After completing his studies, Pita began his career across multiple sectors—including management consulting, agribusiness, his family’s enterprise, and a digital technology startup—before entering politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2019 under the Future Forward Party. Following the party's dissolution, he became the leader of the Move Forward Party and led the party in the 2023 general election, where it won the highest number of votes nationwide. Pita himself received over 14 million votes—making it the most participated general election in Thailand's democratic history. But Pita was not endorsed as Prime Minister by the unelected Senate. He was later suspended from duty by an order of the Constitutional Court, before ultimately winning the case. He later returned to Parliament as an opposition Member of Parliament, with the Move Forward Party still holding the largest number of seats in the House at the time. That changed when the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the party and banned Pita from holding political office for ten years. Today, Pita splits his time between Bangkok and Boston, where he serves as a Senior Fellow at Harvard University. He is passionate about working with young people—especially nurturing the next generation of leaders and helping them find the courage to step into politics, not only in Thailand but across ASEAN and the broader Asian region. He believes that politics should be a place of hope, not fear. And he's more than willing to be a bridge for young people to walk across. He is also the proud father of Pipim, his nine-year-old daughter, who continues to be a vital source of inspiration in every role he plays.