putting on a daring expression
The main opposition Move Forward Party ( MPF ) needs a lot of cheering up because it may not be hiding its fears well. Finding itself in the middle of a dissolution process
And by appearance, the “new house” that its MPs are apparently considering moving to in the event that the celebration is disbanded by a court order is not already suitable for them.
The MFP is entering yet another turbulent stage, with its potential hanging by a string as a result of a troubling decision from the Constitutional Court on January 31 that claimed the MFP’s efforts to amend Part 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese guess laws, indicated an intention to” device away” at the constitutional king.
Additionally, the judge mandated that the MFP stop attempting to update Section 112.
The selection served as the foundation for a subsequent court decision that may decide whether or not the party would win.
The EC and the jury have agreed to hear the situation on March 12 and the EC unanimously decided to ask the contract court to dissolve the MFP.
Referring to the judge’s Jan 31 decision, the committee argues that the MFP violated Section 92 of the natural law on political events. The area gives the court the power to dissolve any party that threatens the democratic monarchy.
It claimed that in a violation of Section 49 of the law, campaigning for legal amendments to Section 112 amounted to an attempt to end the constitutional king.
The Royal Household Bureau, in contrast to any regular resident, was required to file any der guess problem in the MFP’s proposed revisions. Additionally, it called for what some critics called reduced prison terms for lese majority criminals.
The courts pointed to past behavior by Pita Limjaroenrat, the original MFP head, as well as those by the MFP in general, including its loan programs for people accused of der qualifications.
As lawmakers seek to amend the der guess law, 44 of the side’s MPs, including its current chief adviser, Mr. Pita, may face a life ban from politics.
According to a social insider, MFP members were becoming more anxious about the breakdown case.
The MFP is assumed to had prepared for the worst, just like other events before it that were disbanded by court order. A backup celebration would normally be required in a backup plan.
Typically, any such dress may be expected to be among those left “lying around” in the EC’s registration, ready to be retrieved and “re-activated” to welcomed the migration of MPs from a dismantled group.
The Kao Mai Party ( New Step Party ), whose name has a well-known ring, was reportedly the MFP’s closest party that could serve as a fallback option. In Thai, the MFP reads as Kao Klai Party.
The Kao Mai Party’s registration with the EC was made public on April 14, 2020, but records have revealed that the commission had ordered its dissolution two years later because it had failed to make necessary changes to its rules under the Political Parties Act and obtain a sufficient membership within a legal time frame.
In May 2022, the party’s termination was announced in the Royal Gazette.
The MFP jumped to downplay the issue as soon as the fallback party news made headlines. However, its explanation did not sound reassuring to a lot of critics.
The fall-back party report, according to MFP list-MP Pakornwut Udompipatsakul, was riddled with lies.
He insisted no” Plan B” had cropped up at party meetings as reported, although he admitted the MFP was not being complacent.
” Whatever the situation, we stand fully prepared for what is to come,” he said.
Since the ball is not in the MFP’s court, the MP claimed the party has n’t had a serious or in-depth discussion about the likelihood of its dissolution.
” But I will say this. We will continue to work as hard as we can to achieve our goals, even if our party ceases to exist,” he said.
However, Mr. Pakornwut said it was understandable that some of the party’s first-time MPs might be concerned about the party’s future.
So we decided to uplift some spirits and ease some jitters by telling a party gathering that there is nothing to it.
” The meeting agreed it’s a matter of staying put in the same’house’ with only a change of address,” the MP said.
He also clarified that it was MFP leader Chaithawat Tulathon who spoke about the” change of address”, not Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, former leader of the now-defunct Future Forward Party ( FFP ) and chairman of the Progressive Movement, whom many MFP members hold in high esteem.
The FFP was renamed the MFP after it was ultimately disbanded due to an illegal loan it took from Mr. Thanathorn.
Is this the beginning of the road?
One rumor is unsettling Democrat Party supporters and suggests that the party’s apparent calm may have been deceptive in the wake of the rumors about a cabinet reshuffle that some predict will occur after the first reading of the budget bill for 2025.
The executive board, led by leader Chalermchai Sri-on, is reportedly considering the possibility of rejecting former party leader and patriarch Chuan Leekpai as a candidate for the party-list in the upcoming elections.
Chuan: Feels indebted to party
As the move is likely to cause a stir among party supporters, the board may opt to include Mr Chuan, who occupied second spot on the party-list in the last general election, on its list of candidates. However, there is no guarantee that his name will appear high on that list.
Given the Democrat Party’s sharp drop in popularity, failing to secure a spot in the” safe zone” could potentially be a setback for Mr Chuan’s political career, if he chooses to contest the next election.
With the poll still three years away, observers believe that discussions about the party patriarch’s political future are premature.
Although there are significant political changes in the country during that time, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political scientist from the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ), asserted to the Bangkok Post, the rumor is not entirely untrue.
The analyst pointed out that Mr. Chuan and the party’s executive board have divergent viewpoints, particularly regarding whether or not the Democrats should form a coalition government.
When some Democrat MPs voted in favor of Srettha Thavisin becoming prime minister, Mr. Chuan made it known that he was unhappy.
It is widely believed that Sanphet Boonyamanee and former leaders Jurin Laksanawisit and Banyat Bantadtan, as well as three party MPs, Jurin Laksanawisit and Jurin Laksanawisit, do not want to be a part of the Pheu Thai-led coalition. And that stance could jeopardise the party’s chances of being accepted into the coalition, according to Mr Phichai.
In order to increase its stability, Pheu Thai is reportedly considering incorporating the Democrat Party into the coalition and is prepared to appoint a ministerial and deputy ministerial position for the new partner. With 25 Democrat Party seats, the government would command a solid 336 seats in the House.
However, it might cause problems for the ruling party if Mr. Chuan and the three other MPs choose to remain in the opposition camp despite the party switching sides. According to the analyst, Phuket will likely give up on any negotiations with the Democrats to avoid problems in the future.
The party will have a lot of questions to answer, according to Mr. Phichai when the party does n’t put Mr. Chuan on the party list despite his desire to contest the elections.
” Mr Chuan is a widely respected figure among party supporters,” he added.
Mr. Chuan is regarded as the party’s most authoritative figure because of his unblemished track record. He served twice as prime minister– first from Sept 20, 1992, to July 13, 1995, and again from Nov 9, 1997, to Feb 9, 2001.
The Democrat Party faces a more pressing issue, which is how to reconnect with voters and regain support and trust, according to the analyst. If the party cannot reverse its political fortunes, it may get only one party-list seat, if any, in the next polls. The party leader typically occupies the top spot on the list.
Mr Chuan, who will have reached 90 by the time the next election takes place, may consider retiring and help the party in its campaigning, according to Mr Phichai.
” The Democrat Party’s popularity is likely to dip even further. It may be time [for Mr Chuan ] to end his political career on a positive note,” he said.
The Democrats suffered badly in last year’s election when they captured only 25 seats– sharply down from the 52 won in the 2019 election.
Some people worry that Mr. Chalermchai’s leadership will lead the party from being a national force to a minor party, which is the party’s future.
After the leadership contest in early December last year, in which Mr Chalermchai was elected unopposed, high-profile members quit the party including former party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Sathit Pitutecha, Sathit Wongnongtoey and Orn-anong Kanchanachusak.
Mr. Chuan said he was indebted to the party for giving him the opportunity to be where he is now when he was asked in early December whether he would continue to work for the organization despite the upheaval.
I was elected as the party’s leader after being deemed fit for the position.
” In the final chapter of my political career, I am obligated to repay this debt,” Mr. Chuan was quoted as saying.