In Thailand, the Move Forward Party (MFP), winner of the elections but blocked at the gates of power, appeared “confident” on Monday after a hearing at the Constitutional Court on the subject of the monarchy's reform promise. the party during its election campaign.
The MFP won the most seats in May's general election, but conservative military-royalist forces opposed to its reform agenda prevented Pita Limjaroanrat, the party's leader at the time, from becoming prime minister.
The Constitutional Court was asked to determine whether the MFP's proposal to reform the strict lese majeste law was an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.
Pita testified at a hearing Monday and said it went well.
“If we take into account the scope of the laws and the charges, in the worst case scenario the Constitutional Court could ask us to stop the proceedings (campaign to change the law),” Pita said in English, rejecting suggestions that the party would risk dissolution.
The court said in a statement that it would deliver a verdict in the case on January 31.
The party's current chairman, Chaithawat Tulathon, said he was confident that the party's program did not violate the law.
The MFP benefited from a massive vote by Thailand's urban youth, tired of nearly a decade of military rule, to win a surprise election victory in May. She beat Pheu Thai, the party of tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra, which came in second place.
Senators appointed by the former junta prevented Pita from becoming prime minister, and the Pheu Thai party, without the MFP, formed a coalition around its candidate Srettha, which included pro-military parties.