Thai court orders dissolution of pro-democracy opposition party

Bangkok: Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday ordered the dissolution of anti-establishment opposition party Move Forward, ruling that its campaign to amend a law that protects the monarchy from criticism was unconstitutional and undermined the system of governance with the king as head of state.

The disbanding of Move Forward, which won the most seats in the 2023 election, marks the latest setback for Thailand's major political parties, which are embroiled in a two-decade battle for power against a nexus of influential conservatives, old-money families and the royalist military.

Though the dissolution could anger millions of voters who backed Move Forward and its progressive agenda, its impact may be minimal, with only its 11 party executives receiving 10-year political bans as a result. Move Forward's leaders announced that the surviving 143 lawmakers would form a new party, as they did in 2020, when predecessor Future Forward was dissolved over a campaign funding violation.


Deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul said the new vehicle, which would be the biggest party in parliament, would take on the same core ideology and not neglect its promises. The US, an important Thai ally, expressed deep concern over the Constitutional Court decision.