BANGKOK – Thailand’s Constitutional Court is scheduled to deliberate on Wednesday a case seeking to disband the opposition Move Forward Party, the surprise winner of last year’s general election, over a key campaign promise.
This hearing is one of three sensitive court cases that have increased political uncertainty in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. The court is expected to issue a statement on Wednesday but has not set a verdict date for the case involving Move Forward.
Move Forward garnered massive youth support with its progressive agenda, amplified by a sophisticated social media campaign, overcoming military-backed parties in the 2023 polls and securing 30% of the seats in the lower house.
The case stems from a campaign to reform Thailand’s royal insult—or lese majeste—law. The law, which protects the monarchy from insult and defamation, carries a punishment of up to 15 years in jail for each perceived offense. Over 270 people have been prosecuted under this law since 2020, according to the legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
In April, the court agreed to hear the case by the Election Commission seeking to dissolve Move Forward and impose a 10-year political ban on the party’s executives. Move Forward has defended itself by stating the complaint was unlawful and contesting the Constitutional Court’s jurisdiction.
In January, the Constitutional Court ruled that Move Forward’s plan to amend lese majeste laws was a hidden effort to undermine the monarchy, ordering the party to cease its campaign, which Move Forward complied with.
Pita Limjaroenrat, who led Move Forward during the election, stated the party had no ill intent in proposing the amendment. “We wanted to preserve the king’s status and power so that he is above politics,” Pita told reporters. “We do not want… the gap between the king and the people to widen.”
Move Forward’s predecessor party, Future Forward, was dissolved in 2020 over a campaign funding violation, which contributed to massive anti-government protests calling for the removal of then-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and reform of the monarchy.