Thailand's main opposition politician banned from politics for 10 years
In March, the Election Commission had already requested the dissolution of the largest opposition party at the Supreme Court of the land. The MFP had won the most seats in last year's parliamentary election but was later hindered from forming the government. Pita had already stepped down as MFP leader in September.
Before the parliamentary election, Pita's popularity had surged, particularly among young voters. During the campaign, his party promised, among other things, to reform Thailand's lese-majeste law, one of the strictest in the world. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn enjoys a quasi-divine status. Critics argue, however, that the laws are misused to suppress political debate.
In January, Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled the MFP's reform plans unconstitutional, stating they amounted to an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.
Following the court's announcement, a few dozen supporters gathered outside the MFP's Bangkok headquarters. Sixty-year-old Sakhorn Kamtalang said the court had no right to dissolve the party. "For me, Pita is my prime minister," she emphasized. Sixty-nine-year-old Hua Jaidee said, "Good people always end up being harassed."
Other political parties saw an opportunity to gain support due to the MFP's crisis. Despite the dissolution, many MFP supporters remained loyal, viewing the party as their primary representative.
