MFP Leaders Discuss Scenarios With Party On Brink Of Dissolution

Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Chaithawat Tulathon admitted that the party may find it difficult to argue its case after the Constitutional Court's January 31 verdict and the subsequent request by the Election Commission (EC) to order the dissolution of the MFP. Nonetheless, he expressed hope that the Court would allow the party to present its arguments.

• MFP spokesperson Parit Watcharasindhu has already said that should the party be dissolved, "there will be a new vehicle to continue driving our set of ideas in Thai politics." This scenario has several precedents, including the rebirth of the dissolved Future Forward Party (FFP) under the banner of the Move Forward Party.
• However, although the MFP's reformist agenda could be picked up by a successor party, a dissolution would still deliver a major setback to the progressive camp. If the MFP is dissolved, its key leaders who led the party to an electoral victory last year and were instrumental in building its popularity could be banned from politics.
• Another question concerns the fate of those MFP MPs who keep their seats. Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul said his party would be open to admit political migrants from the MFP if it gets disbanded. Party-hopping by remaining MFP MPs could significantly alter the balance in the Thai legislature.
• MFP's Chaithawat said that party executives still need to discuss the strategy for the coming weeks, including the option for them to resign en bloc to try and avoid decade-long bans from politics. EC chief Ittiporn Boonpracong said that the formal dissolution request should be ready for submission next week.