A campaign rally of the Move Forward Party in 2023. Photo by Rameshe999. Source: Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0
Thailand’s Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP) after ruling that the group’s campaign to amend the King’s Defamation Law – a law that prohibits criticism of the Thai king – constituted treason.
The MFP secured the most votes in the 2023 elections due to its commitment to democratic reforms. One of its promises was to review laws that the then military-backed government used as a weapon to suppress dissent. The MFP received support from young voters and activists who actively campaigned for the restoration of civilian rule and the amendment of Article 112 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes disrespect for the monarchy. Although the MFP won the majority of votes, it was unable to form a government due to opposition from military-appointed Senate members.
An excerpt from the court ruling states that by supporting activists who campaigned for reform of monarchy law, MFP members posed a threat to the country’s most respected institution.
It weakens the protections of the institution, abuses the institution in the hope of gaining votes to win the election, and intends to make the institution the enemy of the people.
But MFP leader Chaitawat Tulathon denied that his group was planning an attack on the monarchy, while warning that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent for resolving political debates.
Today’s ruling by the Constitutional Court poses a long-term risk that our democratic regime will transform into another regime with the King as head of state. This is an important consequence that we believe will have a greater impact than the dissolution of the Move Forward party.
Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of the MFP and former candidate for prime minister, reiterated in a press conference that “maintaining a democratic regime with the king as head of state would require solidarity with different opinions in society.”
Around 88 student groups from 19 universities across Thailand issued a joint statement condemning the dissolution of the MFP.
The Constitutional Court should be an organization that protects the Constitution and constitutional rights. Instead, it is an organization that expands the power of the state and restricts people’s rights and freedoms.
Business associations also commented Worries on the economic impact of the ruling. Author Lynn Sasinpong highlighted how political instability could affect the country’s economy.
Political instability in Thailand has significantly hampered the country’s economic growth in the past. Frequent changes of government have led to an unpredictable business environment, and political protests have paralyzed key economic sectors such as tourism. This instability has undermined investor confidence and disrupted long-term economic planning, making it difficult to implement consistent and effective policies.
Veteran journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk pointed out the absurdity of “Thai-style democracy”:
…in a democratic society, one would have thought that we would wait four years after the referendum on election day before exercising our franchise and voting again to resolve differences over the Kingdom’s political course. Not here in Thailand. Voters may feel betrayed by renegade generals or Constitutional Court rulings and simply need to do much more to protect their political rights. This is the travails of today’s Thai “democracy.”
In addition to dissolving the MFP, the court ruling also barred 11 MFP officials from electoral politics for the next ten years. In an editorial, the Bangkok Post wrote that idealistic young politicians were being “marginalized” while the leaders of the 2014 coup remained in power.
Whether you support them or not, these young and idealistic politicians are a new political resource for the future. What will happen to Thai democracy in the long term if young politicians who challenge tradition face political bans?
…putschists who have shattered constitutions and repeatedly snubbed democracy have not been banned from politics – and have even been able to succeed – while progressive parties with radical views that were perceived as a threat to the monarchy have been marginalised.
The logo of the People’s Party. Image from Wikipedia. Public domain.
It seems that the MFP had been expecting the court ruling, as many of its members quickly formed a new party called the People’s Party. Its new logo features an inverted orange pyramid made up of three lines, putting the people above their rulers. The three lines represent freedom, equality and solidarity. Parit Wacharasindhu, a lawmaker and former MFP spokesperson, told the media that the new party would continue the advocacy work of the dissolved party despite the state crackdown on the opposition.
Although some people are trying to interpret the ruling as meaning that the discussion of changing (the Royal Libel Law) is completely over, I must reiterate that this is not the case. There is still a possibility of finding a workable solution to this problem and I think this is a question that should be asked of all parties who have discussed this issue in the past.
Before MFP, the Constitutional Court had also ordered the dissolution of opposition parties in 2019 (Thai Raksa Chart Party) and 2020 (Future Forward Party). Each time an opposition party was crushed, its organizers regrouped under a new banner and slightly changed the logo. The reinvention of these logos and the rise of a new opposition party advocating democratic reforms were depicted in a cartoon by acclaimed artist Stephff.
#พรรคประชาชน New Orange Party pic.twitter.com/9sO6CgslTf
— Cartoonist stephff (@stepphffart) 9 August 2024
The court ruling also prompted several international institutions to express concern about the prospects for democracy in Thailand. In response, the Thai Foreign Ministry insisted that the ruling should not be subject to interference as it confirms the country’s decision to maintain its “elected democratic system”.
