Thailand’s Constitutional Court has acquitted Pita Limjaroenrat, a prominent politician previously barred from the prime ministerial candidacy, of violating election laws. In a definitive ruling on Wednesday, the court voted 8-1 in favor of Pita, stating that he did not breach regulations prohibiting parliamentarians from possessing shares in media entities.
The case centered on Pita’s ownership of shares in the ITV television station, dormant since 2007. Pita asserted that he inherited these shares from his late father. His political party, Move Forward, gained unexpected success in the May parliamentary elections with a progressive agenda perceived as challenging to royalists and the military. However, conservative opponents targeted him following his exclusion from the premiership by unelected senators.
In July, the court temporarily suspended Pita from parliament based on a complaint alleging his disqualification due to shareholding in the media company. Subsequently, he resigned as party leader.
The Constitutional Court, in its latest decision, clarified that ITV lacked a broadcast concession and should not be categorized as a mass media organization. Judge Punya Udchachon stated during the verdict announcement, “ITV was not operating as a media company on the day the party submitted the respondent’s name for election. Holding the shares did not violate the law. The court has ruled his MP status has not ended.”
Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, highlighted Pita’s enduring aspirations for the prime ministerial position, quoting him as the party’s nominee for the role.
Move Forward triumphed in the elections, pledging to dismantle business monopolies and amend stringent laws penalizing insults to the monarchy. After nearly a decade of military-led governance, the victory signaled a significant mandate for change.
However, challenges persist. The same court is set to decide next week whether Move Forward’s reformist policies are unconstitutional, potentially constituting an effort to “overthrow the democratic regime of government with the king as the head of state.” Plans to abolish the lese majeste law, carrying up to a 15-year prison sentence for defamation of the royal family, are a focal point.
Both cases, initiated by conservative politicians, underscore a long-standing power struggle in Thailand between a coalition of royalists, the military, and established wealthy families, and parties advocating populist or progressive agendas.
Pita, after the court’s decision, expressed his intent to return to parliament at the earliest opportunity. However, uncertainties remain about the timing of his reinstatement, with a potential discrepancy between the court and parliament.
Further complicating matters, an unfavorable ruling next week could jeopardize Move Forward’s future, possibly leading to the party’s dissolution. The predecessor, the Future Forward party, faced dissolution in 2020 by a Constitutional Court ruling.
Supporters argue that these cases exemplify tactics employed by the ruling conservative establishment to undermine or remove political adversaries, utilizing legal mechanisms such as the courts and ostensibly independent state agencies like the Election Commission.