MFP MPs to join lesser-known TKCV if court dissolves party

All MPs from the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) will transition to the lesser-known Thinkakhao Chaovilai Party (TKCV) if the Constitutional Court rules to dissolve the MFP next week.

The court is set to decide whether the MFP should be dissolved for violating Section 92 of the organic law on political parties, following a complaint filed by the Election Commission (EC) in March.

The EC’s complaint references a court ruling from January 31, which stated that the party’s attempts to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law, indicated an intention to undermine the constitutional monarchy.

Additionally, the EC has requested that the court ban the party’s executives from future elections and prevent them from registering or serving as executives of any new party for a decade.

A source revealed that a deal has been established with the TKCV, which might undergo a name change in the future.

The TKCV, registered with the EC several years ago, has 10,474 members according to the latest data on the EC website. Tul Tintamora leads the party, with Alisa Sattayawirut as the deputy leader. All current executives of the party assumed their roles on April 5 this year. The party’s office is located in a housing estate in Thawi Watthana district, Bangkok.

In last year’s General Election, the TKCV fielded 13 candidates but did not secure any seats.

MFP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun is expected to become the new leader of the MPs under the TKCV banner, according to the source. A number of MPs are also anticipated to take on executive roles within the new party.

If the court dissolves the MFP, at least 10 party executives, including chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat and party leader Chaithawat Tulathon, will face a 10-year ban from politics.

When the Future Forward Party, MFP’s predecessor, was dissolved by the court in 2020, several members joined parties considered political and ideological adversaries of Future Forward. However, they lost their seats in the subsequent General Election, which political analysts attributed to voter backlash for their perceived betrayal of Future Forward.

This time, MFP MPs are determined to avoid repeating the same mistake.

Although some party MPs may have been in quiet negotiations with political opponents, they are reluctant to join parties within the coalition government, reported Bangkok Post.