Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ordered the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) citing violations of the constitution related to the party’s pledge to amend the country’s lèse-majesté law, which prohibits criticism of the royal family. In a unanimous ruling in Bangkok, the party’s leadership, including former leader Pita Limjaroenrat and current leader Chaithawat Tulathon, has been banned from political activity for ten years.
Pita, who led the MFP to victory in the 2023 parliamentary election, gained significant popularity among young and urban voters for his commitment to reforming the stringent lèse-majesté law, which human rights groups assert has been misused to suppress pro-democracy movements. However, his attempts to become Prime Minister faced obstacles from conservative forces within the Senate.
The dramatic decision comes six months after the same court ordered the MFP to withdraw its plans to reform the royal insult law, deeming such actions unconstitutional and contrary to the country’s governance structure, where the king serves as the head of state.
Although the ruling is likely to provoke millions of young and urban voters who supported the party, the anticipated consequences may be limited. Only 11 current and former leaders have been barred from political activity for a decade, allowing 143 of the party’s Members of Parliament to retain their seats. These members are expected to reorganize under a new party, similar to the strategy employed in 2020 when the MFP’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party (FFP), was dissolved for violating campaign finance laws.
Further updates will follow.