The Perpetual Outsiders

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Thailand’s constitutional court agreed Wednesday to consider a case that could lead to the dissolution of the opposition Move Forward Party, a decision that dealt another blow to the country’s anti-establishment movement advocating for major institutional reforms, Reuters reported.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the election commission, alleging that Move Forward’s controversial campaign to reform a law protecting the monarchy from criticism violated the constitution.

The upcoming proceedings follow a previous ruling in January by the same court, which deemed Move Forward’s proposed amendments to the law unconstitutional and as an attempt to undermine the governmental system headed by the king.

Move Forward has denied the allegations, asserting it seeks to defend the constitutional monarchy but also prevent the law from stifling political opposition.

More than 260 people have been prosecuted under Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws over the past few years.

The party could face potential dissolution and political bans for its leadership if the court rules against it.

Move Forward gained considerable support in last year’s elections, particularly among young and urban voters. It is the biggest party in parliament holding around 30 percent of its seats and recent opinion polls show that it is still the country’s most popular party.

Its reform agenda also includes ending military conscription and challenging business monopolies, threatening Thailand’s traditional conservative order.

Observers noted that the party’s popularity and its contentious agenda prompted an unusual governing coalition between the populist Pheu Thai Party and the military’s political proxies.

Last month, opposition leader and former prime ministerial hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat said his Move Forward party would “fight tooth and nail” against what he perceives as efforts to suppress its reformist agenda by the conservative establishment.