EC asks court to dissolve MFP

Judges may decide cases at regular hearings on Wednesday.

EC asks court to dissolve MFP
Pita Limjaroenrat, left, former head of the Move Forward Party, and his son Chaithawat Tulanon, straight, hold a press conference at legislature after the Constitutional Court ruled against its stability guess law policy on Jan 31. ( Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut )

The main opposition Movement Forward Party ( MFP ) was officially disbanded by the Election Commission (EC ) on Monday when it filed a petition with the Constitutional Court.

According to a supply at the ballot company, the EC director- general, Sawang Boonmee, sent the petition to the court remotely.

The court’s weekly appointment is on Wednesday, according to the cause, and it’s not yet decided whether to take the plea in for consideration at its Wednesday meeting.

After the judge on January 31 ruled that the MFP’s continued efforts to change Part 112 of the Criminal Code, the der guess law, indicated an intention to destroy the constitutional monarchy, the EC universally requested on March 12 to question the Constitutional Court to dissolve the MFP.

The EC contends that the MFP violated Section 92 of the organic law governing political parties in light of the ruling.

Any party that appears to be in danger of dissolving under the law is allowed to do so by the court under the provisions of the section.

Additionally, the court mandated that the MFP stop attempting to rewrite Section 112.

It claimed that campaigning on the issue was viewed as an attempt to end the constitutional monarchy and was in violation of Section 49 of the Constitution.

Any lese majoreste complaint must be filed by the Royal Household Bureau, according to the MFP’s proposed amendments. It also called for reduced sentences.

The judges pointed to the past actions of Pita Limjaroenrat, the party’s former leader, as well as those by the MFP in general, including its applications to grant bail to suspects in lese majeste cases.

Fourty-four of the party’s MPs, including its chief adviser Mr. Pita, could be subject to a life-long ban on politics because they are currently being investigated for their behavior in relation to the lese majeste law.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC ) was asked to investigate allegations of a grave ethical violation by the 44 lawmakers who introduced a bill to amend Section 112 on March 25, 2021, by lawyer Theerayut Suwankesorn last month.

The petition came after the court’s Jan 31 ruling. Additionally, Mr. Theerayut filed a petition with the EC, asking it to start a dissolution proceeding against the MFP.

Political officeholders are required by law to uphold certain ethical standards, including those that include safeguarding the royal institution, according to Mr. Theerayut.

Section 235 mandates that the NACC must submit the case to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions if it discovers evidence of a serious ethical violation committed by political officeholders.

If the court accepts, they will be suspended from duty pending its ruling.

If found guilty, they will be prohibited from submitting an application to run for office as MPs, senators, and members of local organizations.

Additionally, it will be illegal for them to hold political office permanently.

As necessary, the court may revoke their voter registration for up to ten years.

MFP list MP Rangsiman Rome claimed on Monday&nbsp that independent agencies completed the dissolution case against the MFP very quickly.

” I wonder whether they will also work just as fast in the case involving Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun”, he said.

Public prosecutors accused Mr. Upakit of aiding a transnational criminal organization and colluding in money laundering on December 14, 2013, in a lawsuit filed with the Criminal Court.

Following the Attorney-General’s decision, Mr. Upakit was charged with money laundering, involvement in a transnational criminal organization, and colluding with or supporting an illegal drug network.

The senator was accused of having ties to Tun Min Latt, a national from Myanmar, who was detained on September 17, 2022 for money laundering and drug trafficking. Sen Upakit denied all of the charges.