Thai court to make decision on Move Forward dissolution on August 7

17/7/2024 14:44

        Thailand's Constitutional Court said on Wednesday that it will hand down its verdict for a case seeking the dissolution of the opposition group Move Forward, the biggest party in parliament, on August 7.
        
        The case stems from an election commission petition to disband Move Forward over its plan to amend a law that protects the powerful monarchy from criticism, a campaign the party dropped earlier this year on the order of the court. The party has denied wrongdoing.
        
        "The court has considered that there is sufficient evidence to make a decision on the case," it said in a statement.
        
        The decision follows a separate ruling by the Constitutional Court in January that said Move Forward's campaign to change the royal insult law was a hidden effort to undermine the monarchy.
        
        The court ordered the party to stop the campaign, and did not call for any further punishment then.
        
        Move Forward was the surprise winner of last year's election, riding on urban and youth support for its progressive platform that included a once unthinkable proposal to amend the lese majeste law, which carries penalties of up to 15 years in jail for each perceived insult of Thailand's powerful crown.