Thaksin and Pheu Thai Party face constitutional showdown

Independent lawyer Thirayut Suwankesorn, renowned for dismantling the Move Forward Party, has launched a scathing complaint against the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its influential patriarch, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The complaint, submitted to the Constitutional Court at 10.30am today, October 10, accuses them of a serious breach of constitutional protocol, alleging attempts to undermine the country’s constitutional monarchy.

Thirayut’s extensive 65-page document accuses both Thaksin and the Pheu Thai Party of violating Article 49 of the Constitution, which prohibits anyone from exercising his or her rights and liberty in a way that undermines the democratic system with the king as head of state.

This explosive news was disclosed by Paiboon Nititawan, Secretary-General of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), who emphasised that his party had no involvement in this legal move. This comes after the PPRP was expelled from the Pheu Thai-led coalition in August, a decision that reportedly angered its leader, Prawit Wongsuwan, who has since vowed political retribution.

Paiboon revealed that Thirayut requested the Constitutional Court to compel Thaksin and Pheu Thai to cease all actions deemed hostile to the constitutional monarchy. This latest move echoes a previous complaint by Thirayut that led to the dissolution of the Move Forward Party in August, with the court ruling that it had violated the Constitution by seeking to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.

When queried about specific actions included in his complaint, Thirayut confirmed that the controversial August 14 meeting at Thaksin’s Bangkok mansion—where coalition partners deliberated forming a new government—was among them. He expressed confidence in his case.

“I have witnesses ready to testify against the two defendants.”

Thirayut’s decision to approach the Constitutional Court directly stemmed from the lack of action following his previous complaint to the Office of the Attorney-General on September 24, reported The Nation.