Thai opposition party seeks to rein in constitutional court’s power after political upheaval

Thailand’s biggest opposition party will push to curb the sweeping power of the Constitutional Court, which this month caused fresh upheaval by dissolving the most-popular party and then ousting the prime minister.

The days-old People’s Party, comprised of members of the now-disbanded Move Forward, will push legislation to make it harder for the court to dissolve parties and to lessen penalties for politicians, leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said in an August 15 interview in Bangkok.

“The court wields power that’s detached from the people. Its power undermines the institutions that are elected by the people, without itself representing the people,” the 37-year-old former tech entrepreneur said. “We’re trying to end lawfare and the roles of independent agencies in destroying elected institutions.”

The Constitutional Court has dissolved more than 100 political parties and unseated three prime ministers in the past 27 years, heightening concern about democracy in Thailand, which has had two military coups in the same period. Critics are saying the court safeguards the interests of the pro-royalist establishment.

The recent rulings signal an erosion in the separation of powers, said Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, arguing that the court effectively dictates the scope of possible legislative actions and exerts control over who has the right ethical standards to be the head of the executive branch.

The court said it had no choice but to dissolve, Move Forward to stop the destruction of Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. In the ruling against prime minister Srettha Thavisin, the court had cast itself as the ultimate protector of the constitution.