The Constitutional Court of Thailand yesterday accepted a claim against the Move Forward party, winner of the May elections, for “trying to overthrow” the country’s democratic system, a fact that may mean the dissolution of the party and the disqualification of the their leaders
The complaint against the formation takes place because of its proposal to reform the lese majeste law, according to a statement from the Constitutional Court, and has been accepted by the court a day before Parliament meets to elect the prime minister.
The party, led by Pita Limjaroenrat and which has 15 days to respond to the court, is accused of “seeking to overthrow the democratic system with his majesty the king as head of state”, according to article 49 of the Constitution .
The Constitutional Court’s decision comes on the same day that it accepted another complaint against Pita, the main candidate for prime minister, because he allegedly had shares in a media outlet, something prohibited by electoral rules and which could entail a penalty of up to ten years in prison and his disqualification for 20 years. The judicial harassment against Avançar, a progressive party that wants democratic reforms in the country, began before the May 14 elections and intensified after its victory, which was unexpected.
Pita heads a coalition of eight parties that add up to 312 of the 500 members of the House of Representatives, elected in the elections. This large majority in the Lower House, however, is not enough to be elected as the next president, since the 250 members of the Senate, chosen entirely by the defunct military junta (2014- 2019).
Avançar, heir to the dissolved Future Forward party, does not have much sympathy in the Senate, which could bury Pita’s election, which requires a minimum of 376 supports.
The court cases against Avançar and its leader are reminiscent of the case of Future Forward, which was dissolved in February 2020 by court order and its leaders, including Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, were disqualified for 10 years on charges of having received an illegal loan.
The decision was criticized by the European Union and the United States and triggered student-led pro-democracy demonstrations in 2020 and 2021.
Faced with the scenario that the Parliament does not get to vote with a sufficient majority, Thailand could be forced to go back to the polls, the interim deputy prime minister, Wissanu Krea-ngam, said at the beginning of June.
Born in 1980 into a wealthy family in Bangkok, Limjaroenrat studied in New Zealand and the United States, and represents a new generation of politicians who antagonize the hitherto dominant classes. His proximity, the ease of expressing himself and connecting with all social classes and his face of never having broken a plate, among other factors, won the sympathy of young voters and those disenchanted with politics in May traditional
On Tuesday, the interim prime minister and former head of the former military junta, General Prayut Chan-ocha, announced that he is leaving politics and will not seek to renew his position in the vote today in Parliament to elect the head of the Government.
