Constitutional Court orders testimony from MFP by July 3

The Constitutional Court ordered the Move Forward Party (MFP) to provide testimony for its dissolution case by July 3, for the court to examine on July 9.

The Election Commission (EC) filed a petition arguing there was reasonable evidence to believe that the MFP had committed acts of subverting the democratic form of government with the king as head of state and had acted in a manner that may be hostile to this form of government.

This provided cause for the dissolution of the MFP according to the Constitution Law for Political Parties 2017, Section 92, paragraphs 1 and 2 in accordance with the Constitutional Court’s verdict no. 3/2026, requesting the court to dissolve the MFP and revoke the right of executive committee members to run for election.

Those who hold positions on the executive committee of the respondent party and whose rights have been revoked are prohibited from registering a new political party, acting as an executive committee member of a political party, or participating in the establishment of a new political party within 10 years from the date the Constitutional Court had ordered the MFP’s dissolution.

The Constitutional Court ordered the EC to submit a list of evidence on June 12. The EC submitted yesterday, June 17, a first account specifying additional evidence, dated June 14, and a second account specifying additional evidence, dated June 17, reported Bangkok Biz News.

After discussion, the Constitutional Court has ruled that:

1. the petitioner is required to submit a memorandum confirming facts or opinions in advance to the Constitutional Court according to the issues specified by the Constitutional Court within 7 days from the date of receipt of the letter for further consideration and decision.

2. evidence and documents in the investigation must be included in the decision of the Constitutional Court No. 3/2024 for consideration and decision by the Constitutional Court.

3. the next court examination is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3.

4. the parties will be summoned to examine the evidence on Tuesday, July 9.

ORIGINAL STORY: Political ally predicts court will dismiss Move Forward Party case

The Progressive Movement (PM), a key political ally of the Move Forward Party (MFP), outlined why it believes the Constitutional Court will dismiss the dissolution case against the MFP.

PM’s Secretary-General, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul shared these reasons on his Facebook account. His message arrived just before the dissolution case against the party, which is set to begin today.

Piyabutr accused the Election Commission (EC) of failing to adhere to Section 93 of the organic law on political parties outlining the precise legal procedure that the EC, as the enforcing authority, must follow. Piyabutr, also a former associate professor with the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University sees the EC’s move as a failure of compliance.

“The EC’s failure to comply will result in the petition being considered illegitimate.”

According to Piyabutr, the EC petitioned the Constitutional Court to dissolve the MFP but did not fully inform the party of the dissolution grounds and did not allow the MFP to defend itself against the allegations.

The EC’s decision to request the court to disband the MFP followed an earlier ruling by the court on January 31. The court had determined that the MFP’s attempt to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, demonstrated an intention to undermine the constitutional monarchy, said Piyabutr.

“Had the EC strictly performed its duty under Section 93, the MFP would have had the chance to defend itself against the petition during the EC’s fact-finding investigation.”

Last week, the EC defended its conduct in the case, but the MFP maintains that the EC did not handle the situation properly.

Meanwhile, political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana announced plans to petition the court to investigate attempts by the Move Forward Party’s Chief Adviser, Pita Limjaroenrat, to interfere with the court procedure by spreading misleading information.

Ruangkrai referred to Pita’s public address on June 9 about the 70-page written defence the MFP had previously submitted to the court, reported Bangkok Post.