Thread: Move Forward the Opposition

The more things change the more they stay the same.

^FO Jeff

Move Forward releases video about the party’s uncertain future

The opposition Move Forward party released an 8-minute video today, featuring interviews with some key party members over the future of the party, ahead of the reading on August 7th of the Constitutional Court’s decision on its possible dissolution.

The party also posted messages on social media, saying that the case currently pending is no different from the case against its predecessor, the Future Forward party four years ago and against the other parties in the past 20 years.

Other parties dissolved by the charter court include two predecessors of Pheu Thai, Thai Rak Thai and Palang Prachachon, and Thai Raksa Chart, an offshoot of Pheu Thai.

“Dissolving a party may put an end to a party as a legal entity, but such a decision cannot stop our ideology and we will move on, no matter what happens to us on August 7th,” says one message.

“From Future Forward to Move Forward to the future,”” says another.

In the latest dissolution case, the Move Forward party is accused of attempting to upend the constitutional democracy through its election campaign and activities to amend the lèse majesté law.

On January 31st, the Move Forward party leader and the party itself were found guilty by the Constitutional Court of attempting to do just that.

Four years ago, the Future Forward party was dissolved and its executive committee banished from politics for ten years by the court, when it ruled that a loan of around US$6 million extended to it by its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, was a donation and, therefore, illegal.

Sirikanya tipped to head Move Forward’s successor

The party’s deputy leader responds to the rumours, saying a female leader would be positive for Thai politics

Move Forward deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun said it would be a “positive dimension” for Thai politics were she to be named the leader of the new party to succeed Move Forward if the Constitutional Court orders its dissolution on August 7.

Opposition leader Move Forward Party was accused by the Election Commission of violating the Political Party Act by behaviour that the EC deemed as an attempt to dissolve the constitutional monarchy and a hostile act against the monarchy.

As the party members await the verdict, a rumour has surfaced that Sirikanya, who is also a party-listed MP, has been chosen to lead a new unnamed party that Move Forward has prepared as a new home for its MPs in the event it is disbanded.

“It could be a positive new dimension if Thailand has more female political leaders,” Sirikanya said on Monday when asked about the rumour. “It would not only represent the people from all sides, genders, and ages, but it could also bring new perspectives to politics that may differ from the past when most political leaders were men.”

She added that the decision to appoint the new leader will ultimately depend on the party.

“August 7 will mark a crucial decision for the Move Forward Party. We insist that no matter what happens, the party will continue to move forward,” said the deputy leader.

Sirikanya added that she is not concerned about another lese majeste case under the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), adding that she has prepared a statement but the NACC has yet to summon her.

Sirikanya was among 44 Move Forward MPs who signed the draft to amend Article 112, or the lese majeste law, of the Criminal Code, which was one of the party’s campaign promises. The NACC is investigating their action as a serious violation of ethical standards for MPs under Article 234 (1) of the Constitution.

If the NACC finds them guilty, these MPs could be banned from contesting in future elections for life, as well as from voting for 10 years.

Move Forward says extra budget for digital wallets should be just Bt10Bn

Following a heated debate, Thailand’s House of Representatives voted today, by 297:164 and one abstention, to pass the second and final readings of the government’s 122 billion baht supplementary budget bill, to fund the “digital wallet” scheme.

The House also approved the House scrutiny committee’s observations about the extra budget.

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat thanked the MPs for supporting the bill and promised to take into consideration the comments and observations made by MPs during the debate.

He assured the House that the government will ensure that the budget is spent efficiently and transparently for the utmost benefit of the people and the country.

Meanwhile, Move Forward Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul told parliament today that they cannot accept the government’s request for a Bt122 billion supplementary budget allocation, to fund the digital wallet scheme, and would like it trimmed to just Bt10 billion.

During the debate in the second reading of the mid-year supplementary budget bill, Sirikanya said the government should not borrow any more money, because Thailand’s public debt has almost reached the ceiling.

She noted that, for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, the amount of money set aside for interest payments is insufficient, adding that interest payments for the 2026 fiscal year are estimated at Bt370 billion, accounting for 12% of the government’s revenues and this amount will soar to about 500 billion baht in the 2028 fiscal year.

“All the government’s revenues will be used to settle interest due, leaving barely any for other activities,” she said, warning that this problem will be binding on future governments as well.

The Move Forward party-list MP said she wonders whether the majority of the House scrutiny committee has ever reassessed the revenues to be collected this fiscal year, noting the Excise Department’s tax collection, so far, has fallen short of the target by almost Bt60 billion.

Secondly, Sirikanya said that, even if the government can borrow more this fiscal year, the money must be spent within this fiscal year.

She further said that spending on the digital wallet scheme is not spending for investment, as maintained by the majority of the House scrutiny committee, which is supportive of the scheme.

Sirikanya said that the government should have told parliament the truth; that it is in need of the supplementary budget to save face after having promised the scheme to the people as its flagship election policy.

Instead, she said the government has tried to distort the law for expediency, in complete disregard of fiscal discipline.

To sum up, the Move Forward MP said the scheme is not worth the huge expenditure, estimated at about Bt450 billion, adding the government has avoided proper assessment of the financial worthiness of the scheme by simply claiming that it has never been tried before and, therefore, cannot be assessed.

Move Forward makes deals ahead of potential dissolution ruling

MPs set to head to Thinkakhaochaovilai Party, with Sirikanya Tansakul poised to lead the new party

Move Forward Party has already made a contingency plan if the August 7 verdict from the Constitutional Court is unfavourable and requires its dissolution.

As negotiated by Move Forward leaders, members will transfer to the Thinkakhaochaovilai Party.

Discussions will then follow on whether the party will retain its old name or get a new one – though no decision on a new title has been made.

As for the party leader, a consensus has been reached both within the party and from external influences that the best candidate would be deputy Move Forward leader and party-list MP Sirikanya Tansakul. The new party’s executive committee will likely comprise Move Forward’s 44 MPs.

The recently established Thinkakhaochaovilai Party uses Buddhism as a core principle to guide its party policies.

When Move Forward’s predecessor Future Forward was dissolved, many of its MPs defected to opposing parties, earning the nickname “cobras”. This time though, a Move Forward leader revealed, the biggest concern is not “cobras” but “worms”. Unlike “cobras”, who switch parties, “worms” stay within the party and leak information to rivals.

Meanwhile, there are 10 Move Forward executives who may face a ban from politics for 10 years if the charter court calls for dissolution. Among them are former leader Pita Limjaroenrat, party leader Chaithawat Tulathon and Padipat Suntiphada, who was an executive committee member representing the North when the case was filed.

He is currently a member of the Fair Party and first deputy speaker of the House.

Move Forward party challenges Charter Court’s power to dissolve political parties

The Move Forward party has challenged the authority of the Constitutional Court to dissolve a political party, and debar its executives from politics, and the legitimacy of the petition filed by the Election Commission seeking such redress.

The party’s challenges are contained in its closing submission, recently sent to the court and which was disclosed today by party leader Chaithawat Tulathon and its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

Chaithawat said that, although the constitutions from 1997 until 2007 gave the court the power to dissolve a political party, such a power is not stipulated in the current charter, even though it is in the Political Parties Act.

As such, he insisted that the Constitutional Court is not authorised to dissolve a party or to ban its executive committee members from contesting elections, in the event that the ruling in the case goes against it.

He also said that the dissolution of the Future Forward party, the predecessor of Move Forward, cannot be cited as a precedent in the Move Forward party’s extant dissolution case.

He also claimed that the EC did not follow its own procedures in filing its petition and that the petition is, thus, illegal, adding that the EC failed to provide an opportunity for the party to defend itself.

Pita, meanwhile, pointed out that there is a line that distinguishes the Move Forward party’s dissolution case from similar cases in the past. Previously, there was no rule, written by the EC, requiring the commission to gather evidence to substantiate its demand for the dissolution of a party.

The case against Move Forward under this new rule is, therefore, the first of its kind, claimed the party’s chief advisor.

Pita disclosed that, since 2006, 33 parties have been disbanded and 249 politicians debarred from politics. Only one party survived, because the EC’s petition was dismissed by the court as lacking legitimacy.

The former party leader also said that, under a constitutional democracy, the Monarchy cannot be protected by way of the forced suppression of dissenting opinions of the institution, adding that there must be a balance between democracy and the Monarchy, so the two institutions can co-exist sustainably and with the approval of the public.

He explained that the party’s advocacy for amendment of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lèse majesté law, was intended to maintain this balance.

Pita dismissed speculation that the Move Forward party had already set up a ‘reserve’ party, in case it is dissolved by the court on August 7th.

If the party is dissolved, its ten executive committee members will be debarred from contesting elections. Among them are Pita, Chaithawat and Padipat Suntiphada, currently the Deputy House Speaker.

Senator advocates removal of court powers to disband political parties

Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit said today that the provision in the current Constitution regarding party dissolution should be amended, because it is harmful to democracy and affects all parties.

She said that such a provision makes it easier for a party in Thailand to be dissolved, whereas, in many other democracies, dissolving a party is a major issue and cannot easily be done.

Ahead of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the dissolution of the Move Forward party this Wednesday, the former Thai human rights commissioner said that a party should not be disbanded in a democracy, as she recalled that the Move Forward party received a mandate from more than 14 million voters in last May election.

She added that senators should consider amending the charter regarding party dissolution.

Senators abandon plan to oppose potential dissolution of Move Forward

A group of senators has decided to cancel its plan to solicit support among senators for the issuance of a statement today, voicing their opposition to the potential dissolution of the Move Forward party by the Constitutional Court tomorrow.

A key member of the group, Senator Nanthana Nanthawaropas, said today that the group planned to raise the issue during the Senate meeting yesterday, but could not do so due to some “inconveniences”.

Judging from the atmosphere in the Senate, she said that most senators don’t agree with their move and foreign diplomats in Thailand have already voiced their concerns about the matter, so the group decided to drop its plan and let the case to run its course.

The senator also said some have criticised their proposed move, on the grounds that it was not the business of senators to interfere with the court.

The decision to cancel the plan apparently came after some legal experts, including Nipit Intarasombut, an eight-time MP, warned that soliciting such a statement could be considered interference with the Constitutional Court and could be punishable by expulsion from the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s legal advisor, Wissanu Krea-ngam, said that the recent meeting between diplomats from 18 countries and Move Forward’s former leader Pita Limjaroenrat did not constitute interference in the internal affairs of Thailand.

He said the duty of foreign diplomats is to cultivate relationships and to get information from various sources, such as the media, as well as from social functions, which is quite normal.

Pita rallies Move Forward ahead of ruling

The court is scheduled to rule today at 3pm whether the party will be dissolved and the electoral rights of its executive committee members revoked for 10 years.

Move Forward is No More.

More later.........

Executives ban for 10 years

Sirikanya to lead new iteration of Move Forward after party dissolved

Economist, 43, set to announce new home for 142 MPs on Friday after opposition party disbanded by Constitutional Court

MPs from the dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) will transfer to a new party on Friday, according to Sirikanya Tansakul, who is set to lead the third iteration of the party.

Sirikanya, a list MP, was speaking after the Constitutional Court on Wednesday dissolved the 2023 election-winner on charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy with its push to amend the lese majeste law (Article 112). The 43-year-old economist is not among the 11 MFP executives who received 10-year political bans on Wednesday.

A senior MFP source confirmed its MPs would move to the Thinkakhao Chaovilai Party (TKCV). A total of 142 MPs are looking for a new home after the main opposition party was disbanded.

Three names are reportedly being considered for party No 2, or secretary-general: Sarayut Jailak, former MFP director, and list MPs Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn and Natthaphong Rueangpanyawut.

Natthaphong appears to be a favourite as he is well-regarded among the party’s MPs and has played significant roles in Parliament and establishing MFP social media groups like "Kao Geek".

A new party executive committee is yet to be selected, with some MPs concerned that becoming executives would make them targets for political bans if the new party is disqualified. Some MPs have quipped that cheering for MPs to join the executive committee is like placing a curse on them.

The party’s first iteration, Future Forward, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2020 after coming third in the 2019 election.

Move Forward Party MPs will announce their switch to the new party at the Thai Summit Building in Bangkok on Friday, according to a senior MFP source. Members of the public will be able to apply for party membership at Bangkok’s Stadium One Building starting on Saturday.

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Ex-Move Forward members to unveil new party

Just hours after the Move Forward Party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court, its former key members declared that they will unveil a new party this Friday and continue their political struggle.

Sirikanya Tansakun, deputy leader of the now-defunct Move Forward, did not dismiss the possibility that the new party will continue to address the issue of Article 112 of the Criminal Code, which was the cause of Move Forward’s disbandment.

She noted that the court ruling does not specifically ban an amendment to the article. “Everybody believes that the article is problematic. But we need to discuss it in more detail when we move to our new home,” she said at a news conference after the court ruling.

Sirikanya is widely speculated to be designated as the leader of a backup political party that has been set up as a contingency in response to the court ruling.

“We will move on and will not abandon the mission assigned to us by the people as long as people are on our side,” she said.

Move Forward Party had 148 MPs before the dissolution. Five of them were members of its executive committee who were stripped off their MP status as a result of the court ruling. It’s still uncertain as to how many of the remaining MPs will move to the new party amid speculation that a number of them could defect to some of the parties in the coalition government.

Speaking at the same news conference, former party leader Chaithawat Tulathon said the court ruling “sets a dangerous precedent for the interpretation of the Constitution and laws.”

He added that the ruling also “risks affecting the important and basic values of the democratic system with the King as head of state.”

Chaithawat warned that the verdict also puts the current democratic system under the monarchy at risk “by being transformed into another system.”

Chaithawat is among the 11 members of the party’s executive committee who have been slapped with a 10-year political ban, along with its chief advisor, Pita Limjaroenrat.

Pita said that despite the ban, he will continue his political activities as a private citizen.

“We may grieve over what happened today, but tomorrow we will draw a line and cross it, mobilizing all the anger and energy into every polling booth,” he said in an attempt to pacify his angry supporters who crowded the party’s headquarters.

Many of the Move Forward supporters told Thai PBS World that they were disappointed and angered by the court ruling.

“We want to reaffirm that we did nothing aimed at overthrowing or being hostile toward the democratic system as ruled by the court,” he said

And most are still missing the bigger picture as to why such things come about and why they'll always be.

^FO Jeff

NACC asked to expedite cases of Move Forward MPs who support

Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has urged the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to expedite the filing, with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, of cases against 44 former Move Forward Party MPs who signed up in support of amending the country’s lèse majesté law (Section 112).

Ruangkrai told the media today that he had sent an urgent letter to the NACC to obtain copies of yesterday’sConstitutional Court’s ruling against the Move Forward party, to be used as evidence in the cases against the 44 MPs, accusing them of alleged gross ethical misconduct.

The now defunct Move Forward party had proposed five draft bills to parliament, seeking amendments to the lèse majesté law.

The most controversial sought to move the lèse majesté offence from the chapter regarding defamation to a new chapter pertaining to the honour of the King, Queen, the Heir Apparent and the Regent.

Ruangkrai said that the Constitutional Court had already ruled that the Move Forward party had tried to overthrow democracy under a constitutional monarchy and to degrade the value of the Monarchy through its continuous campaigning and policy to amend the law.

He claimed that the conduct of the 44 Move Forward MPs was a violation of Section 234 (1) of the Constitution.

Thirayuth Suwankesorn, a lawyer, had previously asked the NACC to assess the conduct of the 44 MPs and was responsible for a petition to the Election Commission, accusing the Move Forward party and its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, of attempting to upend democracy under a constitutional monarchy through its campaigning.

On January 31 this year, the Constitutional Court found both Pita and the party guilty and ordered them to cease all activities related to the lèse majesté law.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

MPs from the dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) will transfer to a new party on Friday, according to Sirikanya Tansakul, who is set to lead the third iteration of the party.

Move Forward Slower?

Originally Posted by malmomike77

Move Forward Slower?

There's no one left to move forward.
Extensive bans on particular tribes is what they do well and with some consistency.

Why bother reinventing oneself when you expect to be rebuffed at every turn.

Thai style democracy.

^FO Jeff

Originally Posted by malmomike77

Move Forward Slower?

Maybe a little slower. They are missing some of the relay team.

People party is now the successor to the Move Forward party

The now defunct Move Forward party will officially unveil its new incarnation, named the Prachachon (People) party, its new party executive committee and new leader at its head office this afternoon.

Core former members of the disbanded Move Forward party and remaining MPs held an urgent meeting last night to discuss the selection of a new leader, to replace Chaithawat Tulathon who, along with the ten other Move Forward executive committee members, was debarred from politics for ten years by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.

Move Forward former deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul and former deputy secretary-general Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, were nominated, with Natthaphong being elected.

An informed party source said that most MPs and core party members chose Natthaphong because he is competent, has good relationships with other MPs in the party and, more importantly, is closely connected with Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, former leader of the now defunct Future Forward party, predecessor of the Move Forward party, and is now the leader of the Progressive movement.

All 143 MPs except one had signed their applications to move to a temporary home, called ‘Thin Ka Khao Chao Wilai’, before moving to the People party.

The source also explained that the MPs and core party members acted swiftly to find a new party for the MPs, because they are concerned that, if the process takes too long, some of their MPs may be lured by other parties.
The People party is not a new party though. It was originally registered in 1983, under the name of ‘Rak Thai’, before it was renamed Prachachon four years later.

In 1988, a group of Democrats, led by Chalermbhand Srivikorn, the former secretary-general, and his wife, Khunying Sasima, defected to the Prachachon party. Chalermbhand became the party leader, with Veera Musikapong as the secretary-general. Other key members of the party included Kraisorn Tantipong, Lert Hong Pakdee, Anan Chaisaeng, Thawil Praisont, Samphan Lertnuwat and Krit Pongpetch.

The Prachachon party won 19 seats in the 1988 general election, mostly in constituencies in the southern region, which was traditionally dominated by the Democrats. The party decided to disband in 1989 to merge with the Ruam Thai party.
The source went on to say that former Democrat MP Thawil Praisont, who joined the Move Forward party as an advisor, may have been instrumental in acquiring the name Prachachon as a new party for former Move Forward MPs.

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Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut: The tech whiz leading new People’s Party

Originally Posted by S Landreth

The now defunct Move Forward party will officially unveil its new incarnation

And to think, an elderly individual was insistent that this was a new dawn.

People’s party aims at landslide in next election

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s party, the reincarnation of the Move Forward party, announced today that its mission is to form a “government of changes” in 2027, by winning an overall majority in the general election.

Natthaphong was chosen as leader of the People’s party at a meeting of former Move Forward MPs and core party members last night. A 5-member executive committee was also selected. All remaining 143 former Move Forward MPs have joined the new party, despite an earlier report that one of them may not.

The new party leader said that they will continue attempts to amend the lèse majesté law, claiming that the Constitutional Court does not bar the party from doing so. He stressed, however, that the party will be more cautious in its approach.

He explained that amending the law was one of more than 300 policies announced by the Move Forward party. On reflection, he said, the party’s efforts, from Future Forward to Move Forward, in proposing more than 60 draft bills to parliament, be they related to decentralisation of powers, labour protection or land rights, were intended to address the country’s most pressing problems.

The young party leader said that they would, however, be open to talks with other parties for cabinet seats, but without compromising the party’s ideology or the public interest.

He said that the party’s first priority is to open applications for party memberships, aiming at attracting an initial 100,000 members and, eventually, 10 million, adding that they will launch the membership and fund-raising campaign tomorrow.

He explained that they chose the name “People’s” [sic] for the new party because they want the party to become the party of the people and for the people and because they believe in the democratic system. The party logo is an inverted triangle.

The party’s five executive committee members are Natthaphong, Sarayuth Jailak, the secretary-general, Nutthawut Buaprathum, the party registrar, Chutima Kotchapan, the treasury official and Phicharn Chaowapatanawong

He said that the party’s first priority is to open applications for party memberships, aiming at attracting an initial 100,000 members and, eventually, 10 million, adding that they will launch the membership and fund-raising campaign tomorrow.

they aimed to get 10 million baht in fundraising before the end of the month, and got it in 9 hours ! 20+million in 24 hours.

People’s party recruits over 26,000 members today

More than 26,000 people have registered for membership of the People’s party, the reincarnation of the now dissolved Move Forward party. The party also received about 16 million baht in donations from the public in just nine hours today at Stadium One in Bangkok.

Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said that they aim to recruit up to 100,000 members within a month and will continue to recruit, not just in Bangkok but throughout the country, ultimately aiming at winning a landslide victory in the next election.

In addition to the recruitment drive today, he said they will set up branch offices in all provinces and issue party regulations.

Natthaphong said he will discuss with party MPs the First Deputy House Speaker’s post, which has been vacant since Padipat Suntiphada was banned from politics for ten years by the Constitutional Court, along with ten other former executive committee members of the Move Forward party.

They will also discuss the places on House committees, which used to be occupied by Move Forward’s people.