BANGKOK, April 24 - Thailand’s Supreme Court announced on Friday that 44 present and former opposition parliamentarians will face trial beginning June 30 over an effort to amend the country’s strict law that criminalizes criticism of the monarchy. The move represents a further legal blow to Thailand’s progressive political movement.
The 44 individuals charged are accused of ethics violations tied to a parliamentary attempt in 2021 to change the law protecting the monarchy. The defendants include serving and former lawmakers from the People’s Party and its disbanded predecessor Move Forward. If found guilty, each faces the maximum penalty prescribed under the relevant statutes - a lifetime ban from office.
The lese-majeste law involved in the case is among the most stringent of its kind, with penalties that can include prison sentences of up to 15 years for offenders. Hundreds of people have been prosecuted under the law in recent years, reflecting its broad and robust application.
Move Forward attempted to pursue legislative reform in 2021 amid a wave of large youth-led, anti-government street protests that included public calls for changes to the monarchy. The party argued at the time that the law had been abused to silence political opponents.
Thailand’s constitution places the king in a status described as "revered worship," and many royalists regard the palace as sacrosanct. The liberal program advanced by Move Forward and later the People’s Party generated strong opposition from conservative quarters, with the movement facing multiple adverse court rulings over recent years. Those rulings included the dissolution of parties on two occasions.
Among those named to face trial are People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, four deputy leaders, and former Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who is currently subject to a 10-year ban from political activity. At a press conference on Friday, Natthaphong said: "We will pursue our legal fight in the Supreme Court to the fullest extent, in order to defend the legitimacy of the representative mandate in a parliamentary democracy."
The progressive movement found substantial support among young and urban voters, which propelled Move Forward to victory in the 2023 general election. Despite that electoral success, Move Forward was prevented from forming a government by lawmakers aligned with the royalist military. A court in 2024 later ruled that Move Forward’s attempt to reform the royal insult law was unconstitutional and undermined the democratic system; that ruling led to the party’s dissolution and bans for its senior leaders. Members of the dissolved party reassembled days later under the banner of the People’s Party.
The Supreme Court action follows a petition lodged by Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission, an agency with an investigative remit that extends beyond traditional graft cases. The court also indicated that those serving as lawmakers among the 44 will not be suspended from their duties as the case proceeds.
In the February general election, the People’s Party finished as the surprise runner-up to Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party, despite enjoying sizable leads in earlier opinion polls. The Supreme Court’s decision to try these cases adds to a sequence of legal challenges and political obstacles that have reshaped the prospects of Thailand’s progressive political forces.
Key points
- 44 serving and former opposition lawmakers will be tried from June 30 on alleged ethics violations tied to a 2021 attempt to amend the lese-majeste law.
- The defendants include leaders from the People’s Party and the dissolved Move Forward; conviction could mean a lifetime ban from office.
- The case was brought after a petition from the National Anti-Corruption Commission; serving lawmakers among the 44 will not be suspended while proceedings continue.
Risks and uncertainties
- Legal outcomes could further restrict leadership and electoral options for the People’s Party and former Move Forward members, affecting political representation in Thailand.
- Continued prosecutions under the lese-majeste law may preserve legal risks for public figures and could influence political campaigning and legislative priorities.
- Political volatility tied to high-profile trials and court rulings may have implications for investor and market sentiment, particularly in sectors sensitive to regulatory and political stability.
Note: This report reflects the facts made available in official court announcements and public statements, and does not introduce additional information beyond those disclosures.