Thailand: Tribunal Orders Dissolution of Main Opposition Party Move Forward

On Wednesday Constitutional Court in Bangkok ordered the dissolution of the main opposition party, Move Forward (MF). The group was found to be violating the constitution with its proposals to abolish a law against defaming the monarchy. The judges announced the decision unanimously, saying the MF's campaign to change the law constituted an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

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Move Forward won the election in May 2023winning the most seats in parliament. With its anti-establishment program of numerous reforms, it gained huge support throughout the country, especially among young people disillusioned with years of military-backed rule. However, the MF ultimately failed to take power because it failed to build a majority coalition and the Senate – whose members are elected by the army – refused to support its candidate for prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat. As a result, the MF became the largest opposition force.

The party has won support by promising a series of reforms, including curbing the military's pervasive influence and repealing a law passed in 1908 against insulting the king and his family. It says the law, known as Section 112 of the penal code, is being used by the government to silence any voices of dissent. It has brought hundreds of people to justice in recent years, with sentences reaching decades in prison. Each such crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and the sentences can be cumulative, CNN reports.

In January, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that the MoF’s proposals to eliminate penalties for insulting the monarchy were unconstitutional and undermined the system of government in which the king is head of state. It ordered the party to retract those promises. On Wednesday, the court reiterated its January ruling, adding that the MoF had used the monarchy to win votes by playing off the rulers from the people.

In Wednesday's ruling, the court also banned 11 MOF lawmakers who held leadership positions in the party from engaging in political activities for 10 years. The ban included former MOF leader Pita Limjaroenrat and its current chairman Chaithawat Tulathon.

In response to the ruling, the MoF stressed that the tribunal’s decision and its interpretation of the constitution were dangerous and that the party’s goal was not treason or an uprising against the monarchy. The party also announced that its remaining 143 members of parliament would form a new party on Friday, as they did in 2020 when the MoF’s predecessor, Future Forward, was dissolved by the tribunal for violating campaign finance laws. Under the law, members of parliament from a dissolved political party can keep their seats in the legislature if they join a new party within 60 days.

Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy leader of the MoF, stressed that the new party will continue to be the largest party in parliament, will be based on the same ideology as the MoF and will not neglect its promises to the electorate. “We will not abandon our dreams, our mission and the responsibilities that have been bestowed upon us,” she said.

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The US Department of State commented on the verdict of the Bangkok Tribunal, stating that United States are “deeply concerned” by this decision, which disenfranchises more than 14 million citizens who voted for the MoF and raises questions about their representation in the electoral system Thailand“The Constitutional Court's decision also threatens Thailand's democratic progress and contradicts the aspirations of Thai citizens for a strong, democratic future,” it stressed.