BANGKOK: Thailand’s main opposition party has been relaunched under a new name and leadership following the dissolution of its predecessor.
The newly rebranded party, now called “Prachachon” or “People’s Party,” will be led by tech entrepreneur Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, as announced by party representative Parit Wacharasindhu in Bangkok on Friday.
The resurrecting with a new name comes after the Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision on Wednesday to disband the Move Forward Party (MFP).
The court also imposed a 10-year political ban on the party’s executive board members, including Pita Limjaroenrat, the MFP leader who led the party to a surprising victory in last year’s general election.
The MFP’s campaign, which appealed to young and urban voters with promises to reform Thailand’s strict royal defamation law, was deemed an attempt to undermine the constitutional monarchy.
The decision to dissolve the MFP followed a ruling that its pledge to amend the lese-majeste law—laws governing royal defamation—was considered a threat to the monarchy. In Thailand, lese-majeste charges are taken very seriously due to the king’s revered status.
The court’s ruling has faced criticism from the European Union, United States, United Nations, and various human rights groups, who argue that the decision undermines democratic principles in Thailand.
