Thailand's disbanded Move Forward rallies support for new party

[August 08, 2024]  BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's disbanded Move Forward political party on Thursday rallied its supporters to prepare for the launch of its new name and leadership, and urged them to make their case at the ballot box rather than on the streets. Move Forward was the largest force in parliament until the Constitutional Court dissolved the party on Wednesday over its campaign platform to amend the country's strict royal insult law, which the court said eroded Thailand's constitutional monarchy.

The party, which said the ruling set a dangerous precedent for how the constitution could be interpreted, will unveil its new name and leadership on Friday.

"Move Forward moves to a new party - all 143 of our parliamentarians are coming with us," the party said, promising that there would be no defections.

It will be the third incarnation of the progressive Future Forward, which was dissolved for a campaign financing violation in 2020, triggering nationwide anti-government protests.

"Even though we are sad, we will use our energy to next time, at by-elections, provincial polls ... to show those in power that this is just the start," deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul, who is widely expected to be the next leader, told supporters late on Wednesday.

Move Forward won the most seats in last year's poll, but its progressive policies that include undoing business monopolies and military reform clashed with country's conservative establishment, old-money elites and the royalist military.

Conservative parties and the military-appointed upper house had blocked Move Forward's charismatic leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, from becoming premier last year. Pita is now banned from public office for a decade along with 10 other party executives.

Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks at a press conference as former MFP MPs stand with him, after Thailand's Constitutional Court delivers its verdict on a case seeking the dissolution of the opposite group over its call for lese-majeste reform, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 7, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Forty-four of Move Forward's current and former politicians, including 26 legislators, are also the subject of a complaint to an anti-graft body by conservative activists seeking lifetime political bans for seeking to change the royal insults law.

The party's dissolution comes at a crucial time in Thai politics, with a decision on case seeking Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's dismissal due next week.

The Constitutional Court will decide if Srettha's cabinet appointment of a lawyer who was previously jailed breached ethical rules. He denies any wrongdoing.

Srettha is backed by the populist Pheu Thai party. The Prime Minister told reporters that while he was concerned about the upcoming ruling on his case, he would continue to work normally.

Asked about foreign criticism of the judgement that led to Move Forward's dissolution, Srettha said Thailand is an independent, democratic nation, and the decision was in accordance with the law.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat Editing by John Mair)

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