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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National

EC asks court to dissolve Move Forward

Pita Limjaroenrat, left, former leader of the Move Forward Party, and his successor Chaithawat Tulanon, right, hold a press conference at parliament after the Constitutional Court ruled against its lese majeste law policy on Jan 31. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court asking it to dissolve the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP).

A source said it remains to be seen whether it will accept the petition for consideration at its meeting on Wednesday.

On March 12, the EC resolved unanimously to ask the Constitutional Court to disband the MFP after the court on Jan 31 ruled that the MFP's ongoing efforts to change Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, showed an intention to undermine the constitutional monarchy.

The EC argues the MFP violated Section 92 of the organic law on political parties.

The section gives the court the power to dissolve any party that is seen to threaten the constitutional monarchy.

The court also ordered the MFP to end all attempts to rewrite Section 112.

Forty-four of the party's MPs, including its chief adviser Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, could face a political ban for life as they are now the subject of a probe into whether they followed the code of ethics over their stance on the lese majeste law.

Lawyer Theerayut Suwankesorn last month filed a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) asking it to investigate claims of a serious ethical violation by the 44 lawmakers who submitted a bill to amend Section 112 on March 25, 2021.

Mr Theerayut said political officeholders are required by law to meet certain ethical standards, including safeguarding the royal institution.

If they are found guilty, they will be banned from applying to run in elections for MPs, senators and local organisation members.

They will also be banned from holding any political office for life.

Rangsiman Rome, an MFP list MP, said on Monday that independent agencies worked very fast against the MFP.

"I wonder whether they will also work just as fast in the case involving Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun," he said.

The senator was accused of having ties with Myanmar national Tun Min Latt, who was arrested for drug trafficking and money laundering on Sept 17, 2022. Sen Upakit denied all of the charges.

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