Sirikanya Tansakun, deputy leader of the recently dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP), is anticipated to spearhead a newly formed political entity that will be officially unveiled this Friday. (Photo: @MFPThailand on X)
All 143 Members of Parliament from the disbanded MFP have signed up for membership in the new party, a reassuring sign that there will be no “cobras” – a term referring to defectors within political ranks. In a tweet on their official X account, the party announced, “Move Forward is moving to a new party — all 143 of our parliamentarians are coming with us,” emphasizing their unity and promising no defections.
The history of the party is marred with similar upheavals; when the MFP’s predecessor, Future Forward, was dissolved by a court order in 2020, 10 out of its 81 MPs switched loyalties to military-aligned factions. However, these defectors faced electoral defeat in 2023, a move that evidently didn’t pay off.
This coming Friday, MPs from Move Forward will convene at the Thai Summit Tower on New Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok to establish the new party, according to an announcement by the party’s public relations team. The meeting will also involve members and staff from across the nation and aims to elect party executives, and define policy guidelines and future direction.
The unveiling ceremony of the new party and its executive panel is scheduled for around noon. They will start accepting membership applications and online donations from 4 PM onwards. To kick things off, a welcoming event for new members is planned at the Stadium One sports community mall on Banthat Thong Road in Bangkok on Saturday. The event promises to be a bustling hive of political activity with MPs, city councillors, and the newly minted party executives all in attendance.
Meanwhile, former executives of the dissolved party are set to engage in an election campaign for the Provincial Administration Organization in Ratchaburi province starting on September 1, as confirmed by the public relations team.
The House of Representatives saw the MFP lose six members on Wednesday, as six out of the 11 party executives banned by the Constitutional Court were also list MPs. Despite this setback, the new party is brimming with optimism. Sirikanya Tansakun, who is highly speculated to lead the new political venture, expressed her unwavering confidence on Wednesday that all members would join their “new home” by Friday.
“We haven’t checked the names but we are very confident that everyone will come with us,” Sirikanya told reporters. She added that while the new party might adopt different strategies, their foundational principles would remain intact: “We will continue the core ideology.” The party has already identified a substantial pool of potential candidates, ensuring robust leadership at multiple levels. This strategic foresight aims to prepare the party to face upcoming electoral challenges promptly, according to now-banned chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat, who spoke to Reuters last month.
Sirikanya, currently the deputy leader of Move Forward, stands out as she is not among the 11 banned party executives. The nine-judge panel found the Move Forward Party guilty of endangering the constitutional monarchy and national security due to their proposition to amend the lese-majeste law, resulting in a 10-year ban on its executives.
Adding to the political drama, Jirat Thongsuwan, an MP for Chachoengsao, claimed on Tuesday that a cabinet minister’s assistant had tried to lure him with an offer ranging between 20-30 million baht. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin denied any knowledge of such attempts to persuade MPs from MFP to switch allegiances for financial incentives.
Finally! Sirikanya Tansakun leading a new political front is the best news I’ve heard all week. It’s about time we had more female leadership in Thai politics.
Absolutely! The fact that all 143 MPs are sticking together shows a solid foundation of unity.
Solid foundation? Didn’t Future Forward fall apart too? This just looks like a repeat of history.
Sirikanya is impressive, but is it really a win if they’re constantly in survival mode against a repressive system?
You have a point, but resilience can inspire lasting change. The fact they’re fighting back rather than dissolving is inspiring.
Let’s hope this resilience translates to real political reform. Thailand desperately needs it.
Sounds like another false dawn to me. These political parties come and go, but nothing really changes.
People said the same thing about the last few movements, but each has pushed the needle a bit further.
Exactly. Incremental change is still progress.
Incremental change? The old guard still controls the power and wealth.
Change at that level takes time. Historical upheavals are rarely swift and easy.
Do you think the new party will actually get any traction? Thailand’s political landscape is a tough nut to crack.
If they can keep their MPs united and avoid scandals, they might stand a chance. Gotta keep an eye on Sirikanya.
It all depends on how they handle the lese-majeste law issue. That’s a sensitive topic, and it cost them dearly last time.
True, but isn’t discussing sensitive issues part of what a progressive party should do? Playing it safe won’t change anything.
It’s just a reshuffling of the same deck. Different name, same values. What’s really going to change?
Change isn’t always immediate. The fact that they’re trying to adapt means there’s hope for their agenda.
Hope is great, but tangible results are what matter. Thailand can’t wait forever.
The story about Jirat Thongsuwan being offered a bribe is shocking! Corruption at high levels isn’t news, but it’s always outrageous to hear.
Shocking but not surprising. Money talks in politics everywhere, not just in Thailand.
So true, but that doesn’t make it any less disheartening. At least whistleblowing MP like Jirat gives us some hope.
If he’s telling the truth, that is. Political stunts aren’t exactly rare.
I can’t believe the courage these MPs have to stand against the court rulings and form a new party. It’s inspiring.
Totally! They are literally fighting for democracy. Every time they have to regroup, they come back stronger.
Let’s not turn them into saints. They still have to prove themselves in action, not just words.
How many times do these politicians plan on renaming themselves? Stability is key!
Stability, yes, but how can you be stable in a consistently hostile environment?
Will this new party be able to hold its ground in the coming elections?
If they maintain their unity and stay true to their core principles, they might. But they have some big obstacles ahead.
Elections are just one part of the battle. They need to build grassroots support and prove they can deliver.
This is democracy under siege. It’s admirable to see them trying to keep their ideology alive despite the odds.
Yeah, but how effective can they really be if they’re constantly under threat of banning? Maybe they need a different strategy.
Will the new party attract any international support? Their struggle could resonate globally.
They might gain sympathizers, but actual support depends on geopolitical interests. Countries will be cautious about interfering in Thai politics.
It’s also crucial how the new party handles its PR. Clear messaging can sway public opinion in their favor.
Good point. In this digital age, controlling the narrative is half the battle won.
I’m skeptical about this entire process. Rebranding won’t change the fundamental issues plaguing Thai politics.
Skepticism is healthy, but shouldn’t we also acknowledge their dedication and willingness to evolve?
High hopes for the new party, but let’s not forget the judicial system can still be a huge roadblock for them.
Pita Limjaroenrat should play a bigger role, even from behind the scenes. His strategies have been quite impactful.