Just a few years ago, talking publicly about the status or role of Thailand’s monarchy was taboo. But on Sunday night, a political party that had campaigned for reform of strict laws that shield the royal family from criticism came out on top in a general election, winning the most votes and seats, according to an unofficial count.
Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said it was an “extremely significant” moment. “They have the popular mandate – 14 million people voted for this party. And, of course, the party will proclaim this as a sign that Thailand has some readiness for more extensive structural reforms, no matter the institution.”
According to the constitution, the monarchy is enshrined to be held in “revered worship”, and it is shielded from criticism by one of the world’s strictest lese-majesty laws. Saying anything deemed critical or offensive to the king, even in satire, can result in up to 15 years in prison.
But for the first time, the lese-majesty law was discussed substantially by political parties in the run-up to an election, and Move Forward, which won the popular vote, is the only party that committed to reforming the law.
It follows an unprecedented youth movement that took to the streets in 2020 to challenge that law and to call for the royal budget to be reduced and its political influence curbed. More than 240 people have since been charged with lese-majesty offences ranging from political speeches and Facebook posts to wearing fancy dress.
Young protesters have often been bailed out by Move Forward’s politicians, and some even became candidates with the party in this election – and won seats.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a professor and monarchy critic who lives in exile, described the election results as a “big turning point in Thailand’s political landscape”. An issue that “was once a taboo has now become mainstream”, he said. Implementing changes to the law would be difficult, however, given that Move Forward does not have a majority government, he added.
The party has said it is ready to form a coalition, but it remains unclear whether it will be able to pass its plans through the unelected senate, which votes jointly on the future prime minister. Thailand’s 250 senators were entirely appointed by the military, an institution that vows to protect the monarchy, and which, along with judges and the wealthy, forms part of the powerful conservative royalist establishment.
Move Forward’s predecessor, Future Forward, was shut down by the constitutional court in 2020, and its supporters fear that legal cases could be weaponised against it.
An activist who goes by the name Sainam said that even with Move Forward’s strong numbers, its opponents could find ways to undermine the result. “I hope democracy will win but anything can happen. The election commission can do anything. We have 250 [senators]. Anything can happen … In this country, you can do anything,” he said as he watched results at Move Forward’s HQ on Sunday night.
He was charged with lese-majesty for wearing a crop top at a protest with a message on his back that said his father’s name was not Vajiralongkorn. Thailand’s kings have been referred to as “father”, and intimate images of the current monarch, Maha Vajiralongkorn, wearing crop tops have appeared online and in European tabloids. Sainam was 16 at the time of his protest. He said he was awaiting a verdict in the case.
Move Forward’s performance at the ballot box, just three years after it was started, has surprised many analysts. Napon said it was hard to disaggregate the reasons for its success, and it was unclear whether it was a vote for royal reform or if it reflected a broader desire for change. Other factors could have influenced the result, including a desire to see the back of Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army chief who first took power in a coup in 2014, and a reluctance to vote for the opposition party Pheu Thai, which is associated with the divisive exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The election results were a devastating blow for Prayuth, who styled himself as the protector of conservative Thai values. The leader of his United Thai Nation party, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, had announced at one rally that “Thailand is the land for patriots … with the monarchy serving as the pillar of the country”, and promised to get tough with “nation haters”.
Their party, however, performed poorly, finishing behind Move Forward and Pheu Thai in the popular vote.
