3-7-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s political landscape is bracing for a potentially seismic shift as the Constitutional Court announced a pivotal hearing date in the case seeking to dissolve the popular opposition Move Forward party. The court has set 17th July for the next proceedings, with the court’s president indicating that a verdict will be reached before September.
The case against Move Forward, which secured an impressive 30 per cent of seats in the lower house of parliament, stems from its controversial campaign to amend Thailand’s stringent lese majeste law. This royal insult legislation, which carries severe penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment for perceived slights against the monarchy, has long been a contentious issue in Thai politics.
The Election Commission’s petition for the party’s dissolution follows a January ruling by the Constitutional Court, which deemed Move Forward’s campaign to reform the lese majeste law as a veiled attempt to undermine the monarchy. While the court ordered the cessation of this campaign, it stopped short of further punitive measures at that time.
Move Forward, which has complied with the earlier ruling, vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has pledged to contest the Election Commission’s case vigorously. The party’s anti-establishment platform resonated strongly with Thai voters in last year’s general election, securing it the most votes. However, conservative lawmakers and senators aligned with the royalist military effectively blocked the party from forming a government.
Despite these setbacks, Move Forward continues to enjoy substantial public support. A recent opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that 49.2 per cent of 2,000 respondents favoured the party, underscoring its enduring popularity among the electorate.
The potential dissolution of Move Forward draws parallels with the fate of its predecessor, Future Forward. The disbanding of Future Forward in 2020 over alleged campaign funding violations was a catalyst for widespread anti-government protests, highlighting the volatile nature of Thai politics.
