Pollitically astute but democratically reprehensible. Pretty much what is to be expected from Thai politics.

This looks like a case for...Vance Man©️! He should teach those varmints about freedom of speech! Follow their betters in the US and ensure that the freedom to protest is in the Constitution, that legislators are independent of Dark Power!

I suppose the Supreme Court should consider that a government can propose something controversial but finally the decision is down to The People™️. Then the police can arrest everyone who voted for the referendum question. Problem solved.

Question of timeline: when did the 44 MPs do the thing that is now the subject of this news report? (Someone mentioned 2023 I think.) This question also leads to the question of why now does the matter arise, but if I understand correctly, that is made fairly clear.

Not much chance of any major constitutional changes if this any indication of things to come. It'll be cosmetic at best. There will be no shift from the status quo.

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has ruled that 44 former Members of Parliament from the Move Forward Party committed serious ethical violations by proposing amendments to Section 112 of the Criminal Code. The decision, announced on 9 February 2026, clears the way for the case to be referred to the Supreme Court for further consideration, with immediate consequences if the court accepts the petition.

According to reports, the NACC board voted to find all 44 former MPs at fault for breaching or failing to comply with serious ethical standards. The case centres on their joint action in signing and submitting a 2021 proposal to amend Section 112, also known as the lèse-majesté law. The ruling marks a significant escalation in legal proceedings linked to the controversial legislative proposal.

The 44 individuals concerned are former MPs of the Move Forward Party, some of whom are now MPs of the People’s Party. Some of those named were also former members of the Move Forward Party’s executive committee and have already been stripped of their political rights following a ruling by the Constitutional Court.

The 44 named include prominent figures now affiliated with the People’s Party, including party leader Nattaphong Ruengpanyawut, Sirikanya Tansakun, Rangsiman Rome and Pakornwut Udompipatsakul. The NACC decision applies collectively to all 44 individuals involved in the amendment proposal.

Following this resolution, the NACC will now forward the case file to the Supreme Court. Under established procedures, the court will take time to examine the submitted documentation before deciding whether to formally accept the case for trial. This review phase is a standard step in cases involving alleged serious ethical breaches by political office holders.

If the Supreme Court decides to accept the case, any of the accused who currently hold political positions from the 2026 election, will be required to immediately suspend their duties. This provision is triggered at the point the court formally registers the case, rather than at the conclusion of judicial proceedings. The measure is intended to preserve the integrity of the process while the case is under judicial consideration.

The decision adds to ongoing legal and political consequences stemming from efforts to amend Section 112, an issue that has remained highly sensitive within Thailand’s political system. It also underscores the expanding role of independent oversight bodies in scrutinising legislative actions taken by elected representatives.

Thaitabloid reported that the next step will depend on the Supreme Court’s preliminary review of the case file submitted by the NACC. Further developments will hinge on whether the court accepts the petition and schedules formal proceedings against the former MPs.

Key Takeaways

• The NACC ruled on 9 February 2026 that 44 former Move Forward MPs committed serious ethical violations over a Section 112 amendment proposal.

• The case will be forwarded to the Supreme Court, which must decide whether to accept it for trial.

• Acceptance of the case would require any accused currently holding political office to immediately suspend their duties.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thaitabloid 2026-02-10

 

 

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Thailand has a completely warped conception of what is not 'ethical', e.g., freedom of speech.

There is NO DEMOCRACY without freedom of speech. This is NOT a lèse-majesté issue, it is a freedom of speech issue. Disqualifying political dissent is not OK, this is why many people prefer a democracy.

Amazed at how Thailand does things!!! No comments required for what this does for Thailand's future.

And just a few days ago there was a news item about Thailand being the “sick man of south East Asia”

Proof of the pudding when proposals for change are punished rather than being discussed on their merits.

Thailand is dithering around on issues with the over riding objective of putting on “face” rather than actually achieving anything.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The intention behind addressing Article 112 was never an act of disrespect toward the Monarchy. On the contrary, the core objective was to prevent the law from being weaponised as a political instrument - a problem widely documented by legal scholars, human-rights organisations, and even former judges. The concern was not the existence of the law itself, but its selective enforcement, its chilling effect on political debate, and its repeated use against opposition figures rather than as a neutral safeguard of the institution it claims to protect.

This is precisely why People’s Party (Phak Prachachon) and its predecessor, Move Forward Party (Phak Kao Klai), challenged Article 112. And it is for this very same reason that the law is now being invoked through mechanisms such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) - an unelected body whose past interventions have disproportionately targeted reformist and opposition politicians. Whether formally directed or not, the alignment of these actions with the interests of the ruling Bhumjaithai Party is difficult to ignore, particularly in a system where independent institutions have long been criticised for political bias.

This amounts to what can only be described as exceptionally shrewd politics. After Pita Limjaroenrat alarmed the establishment and came close to overturning the status quo in 2023 - only to be blocked by unelected senators and later banned through judicial intervention - Anutin Charnvirakul and the ruling coalition faced a recalibrated opposition. Rather than confronting it directly, they allowed the newly formed People’s Party, under Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, to continue advancing its reformist stance on Article 112.

That stance, while principled, was politically combustible. It ensured that regardless of the outcome of the most recent election, a ready-made legal and institutional pretext existed to neutralise the party. In effect, the opposition was permitted to walk straight into a trap - one carefully set long before ballots were cast. The result was not merely electoral competition, but a strategic positioning of the law itself as the ultimate arbiter of political survival.

The People’s Party were disastrously naïve. They were simply not ready for the dirty, institutional nature of Thai politics, where elections matter less than courts, commissions, and backroom power.

That idealism only strengthened the hand of Anutin Charnvirakul and the Bhumjaithai Party, who now stand largely unchallenged. A coalition with Pheu Thai Party is both likely and convenient.

And once again, the real power sits elsewhere - unelected institutions, senior bureaucrats, and entrenched elites quietly pulling the strings, just as they always have - and we know who that is !!..

Effectively, the closest competition representing the modern middle class has been ejected. Whether formally dissolved or functionally neutralised, the reformist bloc that articulated the aspirations of Thailand’s urban, educated, middle class has been removed from meaningful contention.

What remains is not an absence of voters, but an absence of viable representation - a political vacuum created not at the ballot box, but through legal and institutional exclusion.

The People’s Party have been (or are likely to be) ejected from politics by the very mechanism they sought to dismantle.

Removal of the choice of a large number of people within a 'democracy' can lead down dark paths. Look to history. NACC are fools

This is not about corruption, it's also not about Protecting the Monarchy.

It's about preserving a law for its function to control, threaten and silence anyone who may be able to challenge authority.

It's Unconstitutional, Undemocratic and Unjust, and the NACC is complicit in deliberately enabling and enforcing every step of this law's weaponization.

6 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

See the dark humor in the number 44?

Watch out for number44 in this next lottery.

Easy money!

3 hours ago, damian said:

He played the nationalistic card and won. I was surprised at the number of reasonably educated middle aged Thais that I spoke to who told me that they would vote BJT soley on that rhetoric. When asked what other policies BJT had none of them could tell me.

All we can wait for is the younger, better informed generation to shift the balance over time.

What's the point of knowing any political parties policies,? they are not obliged to even attempt to fulfill any promises they make . They can and do tell the people whatever the people want to hear , and then do whatever they want which can quite easily be the complete opposite ! This is not unique to Thailand but a feature of any democracy as far as I know

People have realised that a so called informed vote is nothing of the sort when based on lies,

Nationalism / patriotism is one thing that all Thais have in common, it has yet to become "problematic" to be proud of ones country , any competent politician would exploit this, most Thais obviously feel their sovereignty is safer in the hands of the established parties

its not the first time The peoples party have been found guilty of breaking rules, rules that have been around for a very long time rules. They should know full well which rules can and will be used against them politically, and the consequences of getting caught breaking them, Its a vital skill for any aspiring politician , which they clearly haven't mastered ,

I wonder how they are getting on with the "lying through the teeth " part I bet that comes much more naturally to them

No point in waiting for anything , nothing will improve , not for any expats thats for sure

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

This is not about corruption, it's also not about Protecting the Monarchy.

It's about preserving a law for its function to control, threaten and silence anyone who may be able to challenge authority.

It's Unconstitutional, Undemocratic and Unjust, and the NACC is complicit in deliberately enabling and enforcing every step of this law's weaponization.

Like everything else in life, it depends on ones point of view, which can be quite important to ones overall health and happiness, especially in retirement when one has the luxury of free time to think about such stuff

So I personally see it as not only about protecting the Monarchy, as important as that is, but also protecting the culture and the basic essence of Thainess, In fact protecting all the things that are different to the miserable place i left, and hopefully ensuring that Thailand never becomes anything like the disaster that is "the west"

I don't care - Not My Country.

2 hours ago, wmorris61 said:

Not much chance of any major constitutional changes if this any indication of things to come. It'll be cosmetic at best. There will be no shift from the status quo.

i hope so , don't you?

7 hours ago, Artisi said:

Sufficient to say, is anyone surprised.

As we are now in the 21st century, it's time clause 112 was changes to remove any political usage outside of for who it was designed to protect and even then its power should not be manipulated to suit any political agenda.

Their game , their rules, why even have an opinion. on the political wrangling and misconduct. Observation for interest is fine best to leave it at that

1 hour ago, OneZero said:

As true as ever: Thailand - A feudal patronage society masquerading as a constitutional democracy.

people get to vote for their MPs at least once every 4 years based on lies and misinformation , It seems like a perfectly functioning democracy to me

It actually better than most, as one might get paid for ones vote too

2 hours ago, MarkBR said:

No comments required for what this does for Thailand's future.

I have no Idea what this does for Thailand future neither do you or anybody else on this forum, and for that matter neither do any Thais Hopefully Anutin at least has a plan

Lawmakers who aren't allowed to propose law changes. That would be funny, if it wasn't saddening.

Will the Supreme Court take up this matter? That was always a foregone conclusion. Their ruling is probably a foregone conclusion as well.

PP keeps losing their leadership, making it more and more difficult to put forward strong and principled candidates.

3 hours ago, Kat Hao said:

There is NO DEMOCRACY without freedom of speech. This is NOT a lèse-majesté issue, it is a freedom of speech issue. Disqualifying political dissent is not OK, this is why many people prefer a democracy.

Do they really prefer a democracy ? most people have no choice, and few know anything different from that which they were brought up with, Thais do it their own way, as do all other countries , well except for those signed up to ,or trying to break free from the EU

This is disgusting and so unnecessary and destructive.

12 hours ago, blaze master said:

Why is the old guard always so scared of change ?

Isn't that obvious. They have the most to lose, the old elite is desperate to hold on to positions of power and privilege.

9 hours ago, dinsdale said:

BJT won the election in Issan. To say Thais don't wont change is a big generalisation. BKK is totally orange. That's a lot of Thais that do want change.

Exactly, the young, the smart and educated are totally fed up with the status quo.

It perfectly correlates with intelligence. I remember the IQ tests that were conducted all over Thailand twice, and reported in the Bangkok Post. If I remember it correctly, isan and the north scored 89, Bangkok 96, and the south 94.

Anutin and his former buddy, the incarcerated Tony, can only win in regions where the populace is rather dim witted. The uneducated are easier to manipulate and fool.

This is why Thailand still is nowhere near being a democracy. So long as the conservative military-backed ruling elite have the power in the courts, a real democracy is not possible – in true Thai style, it is all just face

Amazing how they do that right after the election, it was as if they timed it perfectly to discredit People Power, and perhaps limit their ability to install the requisite number of their representatives.

Anything to hold Thailand back, anything to continue with the regressive policies, anything to deny the common man, anything to protect the elite and the powers that be.

10 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Its over for these progressive parties for some time unfortunatly nothing will change look at the election thais dont want change at the moment anyway

The winner spent a lot of money to be the winner for a longer time. And poor and/older Thais got some handouts to secure the power.

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Do they really prefer a democracy ? most people have no choice, and few know anything different from that which they were brought up with, Thais do it their own way, as do all other countries , well except for those signed up to ,or trying to break free from the EU

I'm not sure what the EU has to do with it, or who's trying to break free from it. Victor Orban complains about the EU but hasn't tried to leave. Probably because he knows the advantages of being part of a larger group. The same probably goes for others who used to promote leaving the EU but no longer do. That part does have a connection to Thailand and politics in general. Life is often easier if you keep with a large group. That's part of the reason behind coalitions and moving party.

42 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Exactly, the young, the smart and educated are totally fed up with the status quo.

It perfectly correlates with intelligence. I remember the IQ tests that were conducted all over Thailand twice, and reported in the Bangkok Post. If I remember it correctly, isan and the north scored 89, Bangkok 96, and the south 94.

Anutin and his former buddy, the incarcerated Tony, can only win in regions where the populace is rather dim witted. The uneducated are easier to manipulate and fool.

Ah yes that would explain all those self professed geniuses getting taken to the cleaners by their thick as treacle bar girl wives , and those educated wealthy Thais who lost millions to call centers and scams

I don't think anybody is getting manipulated here except us