The Constitutional Court has ordered the dissolution of the Forward Party, which called for reform of the Thai monarchy and became the largest party in last year’s general election. The party’s leaders at the time will be banned from political activities for 10 years.

In last May’s general election, Thailand’s largest opposition party, the Forward Party, pledged to revise the lese majeste law, which bans slander against the monarchy, and rose to become the largest party. However, opposition from conservatives meant that the party’s then-leader, Pita Pak Siddhartha, was unable to be elected prime minister.

On the 7th, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled to dissolve the Forward Movement Party and banned Pita and other senior members from political activities for the next 10 years.

In January, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Forward Party’s policies were unconstitutional, calling them an attempt to overthrow constitutional monarchy, leading the Election Commission to seek measures such as dissolving the party.

Following the order to disband the party, Petter stressed that “my role as a member of parliament has come to an end, but I will continue to do everything in my power to make the country better.”

The members of the Zenshin Party will now be transferring to a successor party.

Source: Japanese