If elected, Thailand’s progressive Move Forward Party will draught a new constitution, end monopolies, and allow same-sex marriage, but it won’t change royal insult laws. After nine years of conservative, military-backed governance, the coalition presented its policy intentions and priorities in a 23-point accord on Monday. Move Forward and Pheu Thai, a populist party tied to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, swept last week’s poll, rejecting the royalist military-backed parties that have ruled Thailand since a 2014 coup.
“This is another historic moment that shows we can transform the government to democracy peacefully,” Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who is running for prime minister, said. “This Memorandum Of Understanding collects the agenda all parties agree and are ready to push in government and parliament.” On the ninth anniversary of Prayuth Chan-ocha’s military takeover, the agreement was signed. Young voters helped Move Forward win the most parliament seats in the May 14 election, including a plan to amend a lese-majeste law that punishes monarchy insults with up to 15 years in prison. Prayuth’s regime has suppressed opposition, according to legal critics. However, Move Forward’s coalition members had misgivings, and Monday’s accord did not propose legal modification. Instead, it reaffirmed the nation’s “status as a democracy under a constitutional monarchy framework, and the inviolable status of the monarch”. On Monday, Pita claimed his party’s unilateral campaign for lese-majeste law change would not deter the upper chamber, whose support the coalition needs to choose a prime minister and establish a government.
The eight-party alliance has 313 lower house seats, a significant majority, but it cannot guarantee power. The lower house and Senate, whose 250 members were nominated by the post-coup military administration, vote on the prime minister under the military-drafted constitution. The winner requires 376 votes. Lese-majeste has prevented some senators from voting for Pita. Pita said he has a team to explain how Move Forward would alter the legislation “so it cannot be used as a political tool” and “ease senators’ concern”. The coalition’s agreement includes most of Move Forward’s flagship policies, including drafting a new, more democratic constitution, passing a same-sex marriage law, decentralizing administrative power, and switching from military conscription to voluntary enlistment “except when the country is at war”.
After Thailand’s poorly executed de facto decriminalization last year, it calls for police, military, civil service, and justice system reforms, abolition of business monopolies, especially in brewing and alcohol production, and the restoration of marijuana production and sales controls. It targets welfare and education reform and a balanced foreign policy to restore Thailand’s leadership in ASEAN. It says “all parties have the right to advocate for additional policies as long as they do not contradict the policies outlined in this agreement”.
