Thai Court Dissolves Move Forward Party Amid Criticism

Thailand's Constitutional Court dissolved the Move Forward Party (MFP) for proposing to amend the strict lese-majeste law, which protects the monarchy from criticism. The court ruled that the party's campaign threatened the constitutional monarchy and banned its executives, including former leader Pita Limjaroenrat, from politics for 10 years. Despite winning the most seats in the 2023 election, MFP was blocked from forming a government due to conservative opposition. The dissolution has sparked criticism from international bodies, including the U.S., and will likely frustrate millions of supporters. However, the remaining 143 lawmakers plan to regroup under a new party to continue their progressive agenda. This decision continues a pattern of judicial interventions in Thai politics, reflecting ongoing power struggles between progressive movements and conservative elites.