The Thai general election officially ended on the 8th, but the political storm is far from over. On the 9th, the National Anti-Corruption Commission ruled that 44 former Move Forward Party lawmakers seriously violated ethical standards in 2023 when they proposed amendments to the lèse-majesté law.
According to the Bangkok Post, most of these convicted lawmakers are now members of the Move Forward Party. Notably, 10 key members—including Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat—were just successfully re-elected in the election on the 8th.
The Move Forward Party won the second most seats in the election, losing only to caretaker Prime Minister Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party. Pita has publicly conceded defeat and stated that the Move Forward Party will fulfill its role as the opposition.
This ruling by the Anti-Corruption Commission will be forwarded to the Supreme Court within 30 days. If upheld, these 44 lawmakers will not only lose their current parliamentary seats but also face a lifetime ban from running for office or holding public positions.
Sulapong, secretary-general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, stated that this group of lawmakers, led by former Move Forward Party leader Pita, attempted through legislative means to weaken protections for the monarchy—a move that could cause serious harm to the nation.
The statement emphasized: "These actions failed to uphold the constitutional provision of a democratic system with the King as Head of State, and also tarnished the dignity of public officials."
The Anti-Corruption Commission stated that while lawmakers have the right to jointly submit bills, the substantive content of proposed legislation must be examined to ensure it is not unconstitutional. Despite existing objections to the draft at the time, these 44 individuals insisted on submitting the amendment, and must therefore bear legal responsibility.
This verdict is undoubtedly a further blow to the recently defeated Move Forward Party and adds uncertainty to Thailand’s future political stability.