The well-loved Thai politician, who spearheaded his progressive party to a remarkable victory in the general election last year, is encouraging supporters to stay optimistic even if the party faces dissolution due to a legal order. Thailand’s Constitutional Court is set to announce its ruling on Wednesday regarding whether the Move Forward Party breached the constitution by advocating for changes to a law that prohibits defamation of the royal family.
The petition submitted to the court proposes the dissolution of the party and a 10-year ban on political activities by its leaders, including former chief Pita Limjaroenrat, now serving as a lawmaker in the opposition. This legal action is widely criticized as part of a prolonged assault on Thailand’s progressive movement by conservative factions trying to maintain control.
Despite his belief in the party’s arguments presented to the court, Pita recognizes the historical trend in Thailand of dissolving political parties seen as challenging the conventional status quo. He firmly asserts that Move Forward will persist in fighting to prevent the normalization of such occurrences to achieve full democracy.
Following the dissolution of Move Forward’s precursor, the Future Forward party, by a Constitutional Court ruling in 2020 for purportedly violating election laws on political donations, Thailand’s courts, particularly the Constitutional Court, are viewed as upholding the royalist establishment. This establishment has utilized the courts and ostensibly independent state agencies to issue rulings that undermine political rivals.
The dissolution of Future Forward accentuated the struggle between the progressive movement and conservative elements in Thailand, triggering youth-led pro-democracy protests in 2020. The protests openly challenged the monarchy, an institution traditionally considered a cornerstone of Thai society and beyond reproach.
Condemning or defaming prominent royal family members in Thailand is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under the lese majeste law, also known as Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code. Critics argue that this law is frequently employed to suppress political dissent.
Move Forward, established as a successor to lawmakers from the dissolved Future Forward, campaigned for a revision of the law in the 2023 election. This advocacy for democratic reforms contributed to its first-place victory in the election, indicating a readiness for change among many Thai voters.
Pannapha Hatthavijit, a 27-year-old market vendor in Bangkok and a devoted supporter of Move Forward, perceived the party’s growing popularity and successfully predicted its surprise victory. However, despite the party not assuming power due to opposition from the Senate, installed by a past military government, and subsequent removal from a coalition, it currently leads the opposition.
The developments highlight Thailand’s status as more of a “semi-autocratic country” than a democratic one, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. This characterization implies that election results can be manipulated to serve autocratic interests.
In the face of potential party dissolution or a ban on Pita, loyal Move Forward voter Pannapha remains hopeful for change, emphasizing that Move Forward represents the new generation. Pita echoes this sentiment, suggesting a smooth transition for non-executive lawmakers if necessary and encouraging supporters to translate frustration into votes at the ballot box to secure long-term victory.
Even amid uncertainties, Pita emphasizes that as long as people persist in returning to vote, hope for change remains alive.
