Must identify and remove obstacles ahead Pheu Thai
Next vote on PM set for July 27
Pheu Thai historically Thailand39;s most dominant party
Challenge to win over bulwark Senate

BANGKOK, July 21 Reuters Thailand39;s electionwinning Move Forward party on Friday made way for runnerup and alliance partner Pheu Thai to try to form the next government, after its leader39;s bid was twice thwarted this month by a militarybacked Senate.

The progressive Move Forward and populist Pheu Thai have the lion39;s share of the 500 lower house seats after trouncing conservative, army backed rivals in a May 14 election, in what was a clear rejection of nine years of militarybacked rule.

But a big obstacle for their alliance is the 249member Senate, which was appointed by the royalist army after a 2014 coup and has a record of voting as a bloc to protect its interests, including stopping governments from being formed.

The eightparty alliance backed Move Forward39;s leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister before conservative opponents and Senators blocked him in a July 13 parliamentary vote and stifled his renomination six days later.

The resistance underlines the threat posed by Move Forward39;s antiestablishment agenda, which includes ending business monopolies, reforming the military and most controversial, amending article 112 of the criminal code, a tough law that insulates the monarchy from public criticism.

Pheu Thai, Thailand39;s most dominant political party in the past…