2024 - People’s Party
The People’s Party is the third incarnation of the Future Forward Party, which was dissolved for a campaign financing violation in 2020, triggering nationwide antigovernment protests. Thailand’s main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) soon relaunched with a new name and leader after being forced to disband. Core former members of the disbanded Move Forward party and remaining MPs held an urgent meeting 08 August 2024 to discuss the selection of a new leader, to replace Chaithawat Tulathon who, along with the ten other Move Forward executive committee members, was debarred from politics for ten years by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.
Move Forward former deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul and former deputy secretary-general Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, were nominated, with Natthaphong being elected. An informed party source said that most MPs and core party members chose Natthaphong because he is competent, has good relationships with other MPs in the party and, more importantly, is closely connected with Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, former leader of the now defunct Future Forward party, predecessor of the Move Forward party, and is now the leader of the Progressive movement.
The new party will be led by tech entrepreneur Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and known as Prachachon, party representative Parit Wacharasindhu told journalists in the capital, Bangkok, on 09 August 2024. It would be referred to as the People’s Party in English. “The reason for this name is because we would like to be a party by the people, from the people, for the people, to move Thailand forward so that people can be the supreme power,” Parit said. MFP, which won the most seats in last year’s election, was blocked from forming a government and was ordered to dissolve in a unanimous ruling by the constitutional court on 07 August 2024. Its executive board members were banned from politics for 10 years. While 10 MFP members had been banned, 143 of the party’s politicians who kept their seats in parliament joined the new party. The European Union, United States, United Nations and human rights groups blasted the court’s decision, which the EU said harmed democratic openness in Thailand.
Natthaphong, 37, told a news conference that Prachachon will carry on MFP’s ideology. “The mission for me and the party is to create a government for change in 2027,” he said, referring to Thailand’s next national election. MFP’s liberal agenda won significant support from young and urban voters – but also earned it some powerful enemies – with plans that include reforming the military and dismantling business monopolies worth billions of dollars each year.
Its bid to amend a law on royal insults riled influential generals and royalists with far-reaching connections, who see the monarchy as sacrosanct. Thailand’s lese-majeste law is one of the world’s strictest, with punishments of up to 15 years for each perceived insult of the crown. Although the court in a January 2024ruling ordered MFP to drop its campaign, Natthaphong said the new party would continue the push to change the law, known as Article 112. “We have said we propose to amend Article 112 to ensure that this law is not a political tool used to abuse others, but we won’t be careless,” Natthaphong said.
The party's motto is "By the people, for the people, creating a Thailand where the highest power belongs to the people." It has an inverted orange triangle symbol. Continuing from the ideas of the Future Forward Party and the Move Forward Party. Parit Watcharasindhu, MP for the People's Party, said that today there are a total of 143 former MPs from the Progressive Party who have not been disqualified from politics, and 11 MPs from the Progressive Party. including network coalitions throughout the country.
The People's Party upholds the democratic regime with the King as Head of State, the rule of law, dignity, humanity, human rights, political, economic and social equality, decentralization of administrative power, gender diversity, cultural diversity, a free economy, free and fair competition, and freedom from monopoly. Sustainable development with due regard for the impact on natural resources and the environment, the establishment of a welfare system, and the creation of opportunities for people to live with dignity and quality from birth to death.
The People's Party believes that humans have the potential to change for the better, that humans have the right to dream of a better society, and that humans have the ultimate right to determine their own and their society's future. The People's Party believes in the possibility that a new world, a new society and a new politics are always possible. The People's Party upholds the principle that the people are the highest authority. The use of state power must be related to and linked to the people.
The People's Party (Khana Ratsadon) was the group that led the 1932 Siamese Revolution, which transitioned Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The revolution was a pivotal event in Thai history, marking the beginning of democratic governance in Thailand. The party was composed of military officers, intellectuals, and civilians who sought to reduce the power of the monarchy and introduce democratic reforms.
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a former reception hall within Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It was used as the headquarters of the People's Party during the four days of the 1932 Revolution (June 24-27), which transformed the country's political system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. The first National People's Assembly convened on June 28, 1932 in this throne hall. After that, it was used as the Parliament House until 1974 when the new Parliament House was opened to the north. However, the old Parliament House is still used for the State Opening of Parliament marking the first assembly in consequence of a general election for the House of Representatives.
However, following the revolution, Thailand's political turmoil saw conservatives attack and weaken the People's Party and democracy, until the power that used to be in the hands of the people gradually faded away, along with the memories of the society that were cut, reduced, and destroyed. After more than 90 years, no one remembers what the democratic post-revolutionary society of 1932 looked like.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
