Thailand's Move Forward Party MPs to switch to new political party

All MPs from Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP), which was dissolved by the Constitutional Court yesterday, are expected to switch to a new political party tomorrow to continue the party’s political agenda.

MFP chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat said it was unfortunate that the party, which won the most seats in the May 2023 election, was facing dissolution.

“I have the freedom as a citizen to continue my political project, but I will leave the party to my colleagues.

“A new ‘vehicle’ will be announced on Aug 9 (Friday) to continue our political agenda,” he told a packed press conference at the MFP headquarters yesterday.

Pita said he would use all available means as a citizen to improve the country and support his former MFP colleagues in forming the best government Thailand has ever had.

He acknowledged that the party’s supporters might be disappointed, angry or even shed tears. However, he encouraged everyone to vent their grief and anger today and invest their energy in future elections.

It is expected that all 142 MPs of the dissolved MFP will regroup and switch to a new political party, as they did in 2020 when the predecessor Future Forward Party was dissolved for a campaign finance offence.

10-year ban

Earlier, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled to dissolve the MFP and revoked the electoral rights of its board members for 10 years for attempting to disrupt constitutional democracy by supporting its flagship campaign to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law.

In addition to the dissolution, the court imposed a 10-year political ban on the 11 MFP board members who were in office between March 25, 2021 and July 31, 2024.

These 11 party leaders are now banned from serving as MPs, forming a new political party, joining the leadership team of any political party or participating in the formation of a new political party.

Following the dissolution, the MFP now has 142 MPs and each MP must find a new political party within 60 days to avoid losing their status. They must also elect a new party leader to work during the transition period.

Last April, Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) pushed for the Constitutional Court to review the dissolution of the MFP because it had campaigned for the reform of Section 112 in last year’s general election.

The EC argued that these reforms pose a threat to both the monarchy and the democratic form of government with the king as the head of state.

- Bernama

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