Thailand’s Move Forward party, winner of last year’s election, vows to fight dissolution

Thailand’s election commission accused the party of breaching election rules over a campaign pledge to amend a stringent royal defamation law

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Former Thai prime ministerial candidate and ex-Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat arrives at the party headquarters in Bangkok. Pita stepped down as party leader in September and is now an adviser to his successor Chaithawat Tulathon. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:16pm, 9 Jun 2024

The surprise winner in Thailand’s general election last year said it will “fight tooth and nail” against a move to disband it, citing improper procedures by the election commission.

The constitutional court is set to deliberate on Wednesday a case brought by the election commission to disband Move Forward, Thailand’s largest opposition party. It is accused of breaching election rules over a campaign pledge to amend a stringent royal defamation law.

The poll agency did not follow procedures before filing for the dissolution, said Pita Limjaroenrat, whose bid to become prime minister was thwarted by the pro-royalist establishment parties and members of the military-appointed Senate.

Under the rules, the party should have been given an opportunity to present its arguments, Pita said at a press conference in Bangkok on Sunday. The briefing was held even after the court last week requested the party and the poll agency to refrain from making public comments until it reached a ruling.

Former leader of the Move Forward party Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media at the party’s headquarters in Bangkok. Photo: EPA-EFE

The election commission sought to disband Move Forward after the constitutional court in January ruled the group’s campaign to loosen the lese majeste law, also known as Article 112 of the Thai penal code, amounted to an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. The party’s executive leaders face a 10-year ban from political activities or political office.