Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dissolved the nation’s largest opposition party, Move Forward, after finding it guilty of violating election rules with its campaign to amend the country’s stringent royal defamation law.
In a unanimous ruling, the nine-member court determined that Move Forward’s effort to change the lese majeste law, also known as Article 112 of the Thai penal code, contravened election regulations. As a result, the court has prohibited its leaders, including its prime ministerial candidate, from engaging in political activities or running for public office for the next ten years.
Due to the court’s ruling, the approximately 150 Move Forward lawmakers in the 500-member House of Representatives are required to join a new party within 60 days.
The country’s Election Commission sought the dissolution of the progressive party following an earlier ruling this year that Move Forward’s bid to amend the law on royal insult constituted an attempt to overthrow Thailand’s constitutional monarchy.
The dissolution of Move Forward has the potential to further destabilize Thailand’s political landscape, particularly with the same court scheduled to rule next week on a petition to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for an alleged ethical breach. This threat of renewed political turmoil comes amidst a decline in investor confidence in the nation’s stock market, which could hinder Srettha’s efforts to revive an economy that has experienced sub-2% growth in the past decade, lagging behind its regional counterparts.
Move Forward’s emergence disrupted Thai politics by gaining significant support in last year’s election. Its supporters were primarily young and urban voters who expressed frustration with the nearly decade-long military-backed administrations.
Conservative Sway
Pita Limjaroenrat, a Harvard-educated individual and the leader of Move Forward, whose attempt to form a government was thwarted by conservative politicians and a military-appointed Senate, has denied the charges against his party and accused the Election Commission of improper procedures in the case.
The party enjoyed widespread popularity in the country, with Pita being the top choice for prime minister according to a June survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration.
Move Forward’s progressive stance alienated Thailand’s pro-royalist conservative establishment, which has held sway over national politics since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. Wednesday’s ruling aligns with the charter court’s verdict in January, when judges ordered the party to cease all activities related to amending the lese majeste law.
The dissolution of Move Forward marks a full circle for the party, which replaced its predecessor, Future Forward, after the latter was dissolved by the same court for breaching election rules related to financing in 2020. The key leaders of Future Forward were also barred from politics for a decade. This ruling sparked unprecedented protests demanding the resignation of the then military-backed prime minister and reforms to the monarchy.
Pita, who led Move Forward in last year’s election, has stated that the party has a new group poised to take over in the event of a dissolution, although he has not publicly disclosed specific details. According to the Bangkok Post last week, the lawmakers are preparing to transition to an existing party called Thinkakhao Chaovilai Party.
Over the past two decades, Thailand’s charter court has dissolved numerous political parties and banned hundreds of politicians for minor and major violations of electoral rules, according to local media reports.
