Thailand’s most popular political party, the Move Forward Party, faced a significant setback on Wednesday when the Constitutional Court ruled that its proposal to scale back the royal defamation law violated the Constitution. This ruling has left the party vulnerable to further legal challenges and could potentially lead to its disbandment. The party’s supporters argue that the law needs to be amended, while the establishment views any change as a threat to the monarchy. This decision sets the stage for a potential showdown between Thailand’s progressive opposition and the conservative establishment. The fault lines were exposed in 2020 when the court disbanded the Future Forward Party, the predecessor of Move Forward, leading to widespread protests. Move Forward’s leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, emphasized that the party’s intention was not to cause the deterioration of the monarchy but to engage in mature discussions within Parliament. The party’s supporters believe it has been unfairly targeted and that its goal is to protect, not abolish, the monarchy.
Source: www.nytimes.com