Move Forward: Thai court dissolves reformist party that won election

However, the military-appointed senate blocked Move Forward from forming a government over its lese majeste proposals, allowing a 11-party coalition of more conservative parties to take power instead.

With so many activists in jail, in exile or fighting criminal charges the large-scale protests seen back in 2020 are much less likely today.

Even Move Forward’s very mild proposals for a less severe lese majeste law have led to the party being stripped of its top leaders, just as its previous incarnation Future Forward was four years ago.

And anyone thinking of organising protests similar to those four years ago will know that they too will be subjected to the tough penalties of lese majeste and several other sweeping laws in the Thai criminal code.

Thailand’s constitutional court, which has dissolved 34 parties since 2006, has long been the principle guardian of the conservative status quo – at its heart is the monarchy, protected by a politically-assertive military. Beyond that, unaccountable power is wielded by palace officials, senior judges, business tycoons, and military and police officers.

Under the military-drafted constitution the senate has a decisive role in the appointment of constitutional court judges, and over the composition of other influential extra-parliamentary bodies like the Election Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The previous senate was appointed by the military junta which ruled Thailand from 2014 to 2019, and rewrote the political landscape in which parties have to operate today. It played the central role in blocking Move Forward from forming a government.

It was unclear what to expect from the new senate this year – but the peculiar election system allows only those seeking a seat in the senate to vote for the candidates in several rounds. That, and some murky backroom dealing, have produced a new 200-seat senate, most of whom appear to be linked to a party known for its uncompromising loyalty to the monarchy.

Additonal reporting by Thanyarat Doksone in Bangkok