Lawmakers of disbanded group rebrand as People's Party in Thailand

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The lawmakers of the disbanded Move Forward Party in Thailand launched a new political party on Friday, aiming for a “decisive” victory in the next elections, according to local media.

The Move Forward Party was disbanded by the Thai Constitutional Court on Wednesday, confirming the party and its members had campaigned to hurt the Southeast Asian nation’s monarchy.

However, the lawmakers of the party launched the People’s Party and appointed Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut as its leader.

Ruengpanyawut said the focus was on “restructuring the party, recruiting new members, securing donations, and revising policies to enhance their appeal to a broader electorate,” according to Thai Enquirer News.

“This is the People’s Party — a party created by the people, for the people, committed to building a nation where ultimate power rests with the people,” the party leaders said.

They have also pledged to maintain the "core ideologies" of their predecessor Move Forward Party, with an aim to achieve "decisive victory" in the next elections, scheduled for 2027.

In its verdict, the top Thai court had said it has “no choice but to order the dissolution of Move Forward Party to protect the monarchy institution.”

The Move Forward Party has become the ninth prominent political party to be dissolved since 2007 in Thailand.

The party had campaigned before last year’s elections to amend the lese-majeste law that shields the king from criticism if they formed the government.