The Constitutional Court on Wednesday disbanded the Move Forward Party (MFP) and banned its executives for 10 years.
The nine judges said the party posed a threat to the constitutional monarchy and national security by campaigning for the amendment of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law.
The court said that the party proposed Section 112 be amended to separate wrongdoings under the section from other offences against national security, make wrongdoers eligible for pardon and enable settlement.
According to the court, such attempts diminished the value of the royal institution, showed intention to abuse the royal institution for political gain in the general election, hurt people’s faith in the institution and affected national security.
The court also banned 11 Move Forward executives from running for elections, setting up a new political party or taking part in forming a new party for 10 years.
Among those banned, effective immediately, are Move Forward chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat and party leader Chaithawat Tulathon. Six of those banned were sitting list-MPs.
The party’s 142 remaining MPs, meanwhile, have 60 days to find a new party or lose their MP status.
