A file photo of Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of Thailand’s Move Forward party
| Photo Credit: AP

Thailand’s Election Commission on Tuesday said it will seek the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward party, which won last year’s general election after a court ruled that the party’s proposal to amend a royal anti-defamation law was unconstitutional.

The commission said that after studying the Constitutional Court’s ruling, its members unanimously agreed to file a case with the court seeking the party’s dissolution because they believe the proposal was an attempt to overthrow Thailand’s constitutional monarchy.

It was unclear whether the court will accept the petition.

Parit Wacharasindhu, a spokesperson for Move Forward, said the party’s legal team would “try their best until the last second to prevent the party from being dissolved”. The Move Forward party won a surprise victory in the 2023 general election after campaigning to amend Article 112, which protects the monarchy from criticism.

But the military-installed Senate blocked the party from taking power by refusing to approve then-party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s nomination as Prime Minister. In the past, the party’s PM nominee Pita Limjaroenrat was barred from assuming charge

Pita Limjaroenrat. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Pita Limjaroenrat, whose reformist party won the most seats at Thailand’s national elections in May, resigned as its leader on September 15.

The young challenger led the Move Forward Party (MFP) to the top spot in the polls, capitalising on a swell of voters furious at a near-decade of junta-backed rule.

However, he was stopped becoming Prime Minister by entrenched conservative blocs in Parliament, and was later suspended as an MP.

The MFP left a coalition partnership with opposition rivals Pheu Thai, who went on to form a coalition government with pro-military parties and said they would go into opposition.

“I resigned as the MFP’s party leader to pave the way for an MP that is able to have a voice in Parliament, be the opposition leader,” Pita wrote on his official Facebook page. Under current rules, the Leader of the Opposition must be an MP.

“Due to my MP suspension, I won’t be able to get my MP position and be opposition leader in the near future,” Pita posted.

In July, he was suspended as an MP while waiting for the Constitutional Court’s ruling over his ownership of shares in a now-defunct media company. MPs are prohibited from owning media shares, under the Thai constitution. In the Facebook post, Pita said he would remain closely involved in the party.

“No matter what my role is, I will still be involved in MFP and will work closely with the people to my fullest capacity, so that we could achieve something together.”