BANGKOK– Just two days after being dissolved by court order, Thailand’s largest progressive political party regrouped under a new name on Friday and vowed to continue its fight for reforms despite persistent opposition from the conservative establishment that had prevented the party from taking power despite its first-place finish in last year’s election.
The leaders of the dissolved Move Forward Party announced that they would form a new party called the People’s Party (or Prachachon Party).
Critics say the party’s dissolution was the latest attack on the country’s progressive movement in a years-long legal battle by conservative forces.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled unanimously on Wednesday that the Move Forward Party had violated the constitution with its proposal to amend a law that criminalizes insulting the royal family.
In addition, former Move Forward leaders, including popular former party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, were banned from political activity for ten years.
Move Forward won the most seats in the 2023 parliamentary elections, but conservative military-appointed senators rejected their candidate for prime minister. The party’s surprise victory was seen as a reflection of widespread desire for democratic reforms, especially among younger voters after years of military rule.
MPs from a dissolved political party who are not disqualified from politics can keep their seats in Parliament if they join another party within 60 days. Move Forward had 148 MPs in Parliament, but five are now disqualified leaders who cannot continue to hold office.
At the new party’s inaugural meeting, attended by the 143 remaining MPs and other party members, MP Parit Wacharasindhu announced that the reformed party would be called the People’s Party because it “wants to be a party of the people and for the people and to work towards creating a Thailand in which absolute power rests with the people.”
He appointed five new board members, including the chairman of the new party, 37-year-old IT expert Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.
Natthaphong told the crowd that the party would pursue the ambitious goal of winning enough seats to form a one-party government in the next election in 2027.
Wednesday’s ruling sparked international concern.
“This decision disenfranchises the more than 14 million Thais who voted for the Move Forward Party in the May 2023 election and raises questions about their representation in Thailand’s electoral system,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. “The Constitutional Court’s decision also threatens Thailand’s democratic progress and runs counter to the Thai people’s aspirations for a strong, democratic future.”
“The United States does not support any political party, but as a close ally and friend with deep and enduring ties, we call on Thailand to take measures to ensure full political participation and protect democracy, freedom of association and freedom of expression,” he said.
The European Union made a similar statement.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the court’s ruling was “deeply disturbing and undermines democratic processes and limits political pluralism”.
“This decision seriously undermines fundamental freedoms of expression and association, as well as people’s right to participate in public affairs and political life in Thailand,” Türk said. “No party or politician should ever be subjected to such penalties for peacefully advocating for legal reform, especially in support of human rights.”
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters on Thursday that he expected Move Forward to respect the court’s decision and find an appropriate way to continue its work.
Asked about the international reaction to the party’s dissolution, Srettha said he understood that the concerns had been raised in a spirit of goodwill, but “they mean nothing because we are sovereign and have our own path in terms of political and democratic development.”
