Thailand's Top Court Dissolves Election-Winning Move Forward Party
Thailand's top court has ordered the dissolution of the Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in last year's elections. It's the latest incident in a two-decade-long trend of opposition to popular movements from the country's royalist establishment.
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00:00Thai politician Peeta Limjaronrat leaves the country's top court disappointed.
00:07He led the popular Move Forward party to victory in last year's elections, but was blocked
00:12from taking office as prime minister.
00:15And now the final nail in a long legal battle.
00:19A
00:36unanimous decision from Thailand's constitutional court to dissolve the Move Forward party and
00:41ban its executive board from holding office for the next decade, citing the party's plans
00:47to reform a law shielding the powerful monarchy from criticism as unconstitutional.
00:53Although an expected decision from the court, anger and dismay at Move Forward's headquarters.
01:16Hours after the verdict, Peeta and Move Forward leaders addressed supporters and announced
01:38next steps for the now-dissolved party.
01:40If the result of the process is like this, then let it be and then we'll make sure that
01:46the political project continues in a new vehicle, which will be introduced on August 9th, which
01:59I will not be part of anymore.
02:01Move Forward's dissolution is just the latest in a two-decade-long battle between Thailand's
02:06political parties and the country's influential royalist military.
02:16Although this is the end for the party, its supporters remain hopeful that the progressive
02:20ideals it espoused cannot be stopped from moving forward.
02:25Ryan Moon Harrell-Hughes for Taiwan Plus.