Move Forward fights for survival despite winning public mandate
With potential dissolution looming, the party needs to navigate political obstacles to maintain its legislative efforts and prepare for local elections
As the Constitutional Court gets closer to issuing a verdict on the latest case against Move Forward, the “orange camp” is taking steps to find its feet and continue living.
This is the third time that it is facing the threat of dissolution. Previously, it survived one case and lost another, resulting in the transition of Future Forward into Move Forward.
This time, the party has been accused by the Election Commission (EC) of breaching the Political Parties Act and showing intentions to overthrow the monarchy. The penalty for these violations is dissolution.
In a bid to prepare for the possible dissolution, the party is taking the first step – finding a leader for its new incarnation. The top nominees for this job are deputy party leader Sirikanya Tansakul, who also oversees the economic team, and Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, deputy secretary for data and digital system development. They were both featured in a Move Forward video released to counter the party dissolution case.
Society, media and academics are now waiting to see what the new party will be called and who will be the fourth leader after Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Pita Limjaroenrat, and Chaithawat Tulathon.
Chaithawat and Pita, meanwhile, have called a press conference on Friday to make public the closing statement Move Forward submitted to the court last week. The intention is to make public the party’s defence strategy and assert that their bid to amend the draconian lese majeste law was in no way aimed at overthrowing the monarchy or undermining the country’s democratic system with the King as head of state.
Move Forward is currently working on three fronts: striving to prevent party dissolution, working within the House of Representatives to push various new laws and preparing for local elections. The party has already introduced potential candidates for the election of provincial administration organisation (PAO) chairpersons in six provinces, with the first election being held in Ratchaburi on September 30.
It is undeniable that if Move Forward is dissolved, their efforts at legislation and local elections will likely be impeded. Therefore, their upcoming public statement on Friday will serve as another test of public support.
Despite having participated in only two major elections, Move Forward swept up a majority in MP and party-list votes nationwide.
Yet “political mechanisms” have blocked attempts to form a government.
At this time, it is crucial for the party to collect as much public support as it can by publicising its closing statement for the case on Friday and inviting its supporters to gather at the party headquarters on August 7 – the day the court is scheduled to deliver its verdict.
However, public support alone may not be enough to help Move Forward survive. The party needs to find a way of effectively overcoming these political mechanisms and breaking the cycle of dissolution and reincarnation.
