Thai election body to seek dissolution of progressive party that won last year’s general election

Move Forward party’s leader Chaithawat Tulathon, center right, with its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat, center left, talks to reporters during a news conference at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 31, 2024. Thailand’s Election Commission on Tuesday, March 12, said it will seek the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward party which won last year’s general election after a court ruled that the party’s proposal to amend a royal anti-defamation law was unconstitutional

Thailand's Election Commission announced on Tuesday its intention to pursue the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward party, which emerged victorious in last year's general election. This decision follows a court ruling deeming the party's proposal to amend a royal anti-defamation law unconstitutional.

The commission asserted that the proposal, deemed an attempt to undermine Thailand's constitutional monarchy, warrants the party's dissolution, aligning with the Constitutional Court's verdict.

While the outcome of the petition remains uncertain, Parit Wacharasindhu, a spokesperson for Move Forward, affirmed the party's commitment to exhaust all legal avenues to prevent dissolution. He emphasized the significance of proving innocence to establish a robust political standard for the future.

In January, the Constitutional Court mandated that Move Forward cease advocating changes to Article 112, which shields the monarchy from criticism. Critics decry this law as a tool to suppress dissent, particularly evident during the student-led pro-democracy protests of 2020.

Thailand's judicial system, notably the Constitutional Court, is perceived as upholding traditional royalist interests, often leveraging legal mechanisms to stifle political adversaries.

Despite Move Forward's victory in the 2023 elections and its platform advocating democratic reforms, the party faced obstruction from the military-backed Senate, which thwarted its ascent to power due to resistance against proposed monarchy reforms.

Legal challenges ensued following Move Forward's electoral success, with former party leader Pita Limjaroenrat suspended from Parliament on allegations of election law violations. However, the Constitutional Court subsequently cleared Pita of these charges, enabling his return to legislative duties.

The dissolution of the Future Forward party in 2020, a predecessor of Move Forward, incited widespread protests among pro-democracy activists, underscoring the contentious nature of Thailand's political landscape.