29-7-2024 (BANGKOK) The political landscape in Thailand may be on the cusp of a significant shift, as Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy leader of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), hints at the possibility of heading a new political entity should the MFP face dissolution by court order.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ms Tansakul emphasised the potential for a new chapter in Thai politics if she were to assume leadership of the MFP’s planned successor. “There will be a new dimension of Thai politics, unlike the past when most political leaders were men,” she stated, highlighting the prospect of increased female representation at the highest echelons of party leadership.
The MFP, which clinched victory in the recent general election, now faces an existential threat. The Constitutional Court is set to rule on 7 August on a petition filed by the Election Commission in March, seeking the party’s dissolution for alleged violations of Section 92 of the organic law on political parties.
This legal challenge stems from the court’s earlier ruling on 31 January, which deemed the MFP’s efforts to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code – the controversial lese majeste law – as an attempt to undermine the constitutional monarchy.
In anticipation of a potentially unfavourable verdict, the MFP appears to be laying the groundwork for its rebirth. Ms Tansakul’s comments suggest a well-prepared contingency plan: “If an untoward incident occurs, members will be ready to move to a new house,” she said, though she refrained from revealing any potential names for the new party.
The MFP has taken to social media to rally support, inviting followers via Facebook to don party shirts and gather at its headquarters on the day of the court ruling. The event will feature a lecture by Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the Progressive Movement, on the Constitutional Court and the dissolution of political parties. Mr Saengkanokkul’s involvement is particularly noteworthy, given his experience with the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, the MFP’s predecessor.
MFP list MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn defended the planned gathering, emphasising that it was intended to provide a convenient venue for supporters to show solidarity, rather than to exert pressure on the court.
The potential dissolution of the MFP and the emergence of a new party under Ms Tansakul’s leadership could mark a significant shift in Thailand’s political dynamics. It would not only represent a continuation of the MFP’s progressive agenda but also potentially herald a new era of female leadership in Thai politics.
