Thailand is facing yet another Groundhog Day. A prime minister was chosen by an elected parliament, only to be removed by a military coup or, as we saw last week, the Constitutional Court. It’s damaging for the country’s international reputation and hurts the prospects of a financial recovery for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
This game of musical chairs is a stark reminder to Thais that their votes don’t count and that the kingdom’s politics are still controlled by vested interests who want to keep the status quo in place.
The first blow came when the court ordered the dissolution of the largest and most popular opposition group, the Move Forward Party, and banned its charismatic prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat from political activities or running for public office for 10 years. The offense? Championing reforms to the lese-majeste law that makes it a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king or close family members. Human Rights Watch called the move "a severe blow to Thailand’s teetering efforts to restore democratic rule after years of military dictatorship.” The U.S. State Department echoed those concerns, saying the decision disenfranchised the more than 14 million Thais who voted for the Move Forward Party in the May 2023 election.
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