Four separate complaints that could have led to the dissolution of the Move Forward Party, have been dismissed by the Election Commission. According to a Nation Thailand report, all four complaints were rejected on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence. Three of the complaints accused the party, which won the May 14 general election, of violating laws that protect Thailand’s monarchy.
A fourth complaint accused the party of allowing outside influences to dictate its affairs. This was a reference to having Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Phannikar Wanit, former leader and former executive, respectively, of the Future Forward Party involved in Move Forward’s affairs.
The progressive Future Forward Party was dissolved in 2020, with its MPs going on to form the Move Forward Party.
A complaint against Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat has also been rejected. The complaint, brought by activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, accused Pita of being ineligible to run for election due to his ownership of 42,000 shares in a media company. That complaint was rejected on the grounds that the EC has already finished examining the election candidates’ qualification by the time the complaint was filed.
However, the six election commissioners who rejected the complaint have decided to investigate Pita for allegedly applying as a party-list MP candidate, despite knowing he might not have been eligible to run.
Nation Thailand reports that this is a more serious charge as it constitutes a criminal violation and it may take longer for Pita to prove his innocence. Some observers have also remarked that pro-junta senators could use this investigation as an excuse to not vote for Pita when the time comes to choose the country’s next PM.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
