Thailand's Constitutional Court Dissolves 111 Parties Since 1997

[webfact]

File photo courtesy: Thai Post

 

ANALYSIS

 

Since its establishment in October 1997, Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dissolved a staggering 111 political parties for a host of reasons. These dissolutions often stem from serious allegations such as non-compliance with established rules, lack of proper qualifications, and attempts to destabilise the political system with the King as head of state.

 

Many of the dissolved parties were initially small, obscure entities; however, some were prominent, impacting Thailand's political landscape significantly.

 

Under the current 2017 Constitution alone, four parties have been dissolved. Thai Raksa Chart was dissolved in March 2019 for nominating a royal family member for prime minister. Future Forward was dissolved in February 2020 due to an illegal loan from its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, resulting in a 10-year political ban on 16 of its executives.

 

Thairaktham, a micro-party, was shut down in October 2022 for offering incentives to attract members. Most recently, Move Forward was dissolved on August 7 for attempting to amend Article 112 concerning lese majeste laws, resulting in a decade-long ban on its 11 executives.

 

Over the past 27 years, three parties linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have also fallen. Thai Rak Thai was dissolved in May 2007 for undermining the political system by manipulating smaller parties to contest elections.

 

People’s Power Party experienced a similar fate in December 2008 due to electoral fraud. Thai Raksa Chart, another proxy, was dissolved in March 2019 for nominating a royal member as a prime ministerial candidate.

 

Critics argue that the court's actions seem to weaponise the judiciary to control opposition to the conservative establishment. Simultaneously, proponents suggest the court is merely shielding democracy from manipulation by unethical players, reported Thai PBS.

 

Interestingly, among the survivors are the Democrats, Thailand’s oldest political party, which narrowly escaped dissolution in 2010. The cases against them were dismissed on technicalities, showcasing the intricate judicial balancing act in the nation's tumultuous political theatre.

 

The Constitutional Court remains a pivotal institution, reflecting Thailand's ongoing struggle between reformist ambitions and entrenched conservative norms.

 

-- 2024-08-23

 

 

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[retarius]

Sounds like the Constitutional Court needs dissolving. 

[Tropicalevo]

Great photo.

I thought that bandits stopped wearing masks years ago.

[ikke1959]

It shows the influence of the army and elite to keep everything in the line how they want it. There will never be a real democratic country possible as long as this kind of committees are existing.. Same for the EC.. They are used to keep the power

[JoePai]

1 hour ago, retarius said:

Sounds like the Constitutional Court needs dissolving. 

Acid ?

[smedly]

who appointed them and why are they all wearing masks 

 

 

that photo tells me all i want to know

[MikeandDow]

As evidenced by the last election, populist policies will no longer be enough to appease voters. The spectre looming in the background is what has been voiced by the disenfranchised 14 million voters that chose the now-dissolved Move Forward Party: constitutional reform – in particular, institutional reform.

Yes, the judiciary plays an important role. They should be independent and unelected, not necessarily entirely answerable to the people. But this is exactly why its powers should be clearly delimited. There should be clearer separation of powers, checked and balanced with the other branches of government. In this sense, their powers of interpretation should not be tantamount to judicial coups. With the judicial interference in the democratic legislative process through overly broad interpretations – from holding that a mere proposal to amend section 112 of the Criminal Code is grounds for banning people from politics to this current case – the Constitutional Court has toppled more than enough democratically elected leaders on questionable grounds. And this is just a microcosm of how the powers that be make a mockery of the highest, supposedly elected, office in the country.

All this points to one thing: the case for constitutional reform remains stronger than ever. If anything, the Constitutional Court’s verdict is a reminder that reform is a real, relevant and recurrent issue not to be swept under the rug of populist discourse. The office of the prime minister should hold more meaning than what the unelected institutions, including the Constitutional Court and the Election Commission, are giving it. Such reform cannot be excluded from the national agenda forever. If Thailand wants to show that it is truly open for business, it’s going to take more than cash handouts. It’s going to mean taking a long, hard look at our country, strengthening the rule of law, and building strong, robust, and accountable institutions. This is the precondition for development.

[Hunz Kittisak]

7 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

This is the precondition for development.

Democracy is not always needed for development especially in Asia. Just look at China. 
Thailand is going well. Thaksin back in charge will make it great again

[Denim]

They should re name it the Constipation Court because it nothing gets past it.

[MikeandDow]

50 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Democracy is not always needed for development especially in Asia. Just look at China. 
Thailand is going well. Thaksin back in charge will make it great again

Good joke !!!! Thailand has never been great!!

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Since its establishment in October 1997, Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dissolved a staggering 111 political parties for a host of reasons.

Quite the record.. hub of dissolution's?

[spidermike007]

It is very likely that very few of these parties were dissolved for valid reasons, and it is likely that there's infinitely more corruption in the Constitutional Court and the anti-corruption committee, than there was in any one of these parties. 

[john donson]

some dude needs 'protection' from words because of thin skin, despite massive amounts of tax payer's money each year even he is the richest k..... and ... is not even in the country for most of the year...

[Emdog]

22 hours ago, smedly said:

who appointed them and why are they all wearing masks 

 

 

that photo tells me all i want to know

Masks? Hoods would be too hot

[watchcat]

On 8/23/2024 at 1:35 AM, Tropicalevo said:

I thought that bandits stopped wearing masks years ago.

 

"We don't need no stinking masks"