Political party in Thailand
The Move Forward Party (Thai: พรรคก้าวไกล, RTGS: Phak Kao Klai, pronounced [pʰák kâːw klāj] ⓘ) is a social democratic and progressive political party in Thailand. It opposes the remaining influence of the military junta which ruled the country from 2014 to 2019. It was founded in 2014 as the Ruam Pattana Chart Thai Party (Thai: พรรคร่วมพัฒนาชาติไทย) and later changed its name to the Phung Luang Party (Thai: พรรคผึ้งหลวง), but after the 2019 Thai general election, reverted to its original name. It obtained its current name in 2020 after becoming the de facto successor to the dissolved Future Forward Party.
History
The party was officially founded on 1 May 2014 as the Ruam Pattana Chart Thai Party.[20]
In early 2020, the party became a de facto successor to the Future Forward Party, which had been dissolved by a controversial Constitutional Court order, as following the decision, 55 of Future Forward's 65 MPs (led by Pita Limjaroenrat) announced their plan to join. They vowed to continue the progressive and anti-junta agenda of Future Forward. The party's name was then changed to Move Forward, along with the release of a new logo similar to that of Future Forward.[21]
2023 election
The party won 36.23 percent of the vote in the 2023 general election, gaining 151 seats and becoming the biggest party in the House of Representatives, which caused a major electoral upset.[22] Following this success, MFP and seven other parties announced the formation of a coalition aiming to form a government with Pita as prime minister. While the coalition controlled a majority in the lower house, this was not enough to secure the premiership as under the military-drafted constitution, the prime minister is elected by both the elected lower house and the military-appointed senate,[23] and Pita lost his bid to become prime minister on 13 July 2023 after failing to secure enough votes in Parliament. He received 324 votes, 51 votes short of the 375 vote threshold. He also received 182 votes against him with 199 abstentions. In the Senate, where he faced the most opposition, he received 13 votes.[24][25] Shortly after this, several protests were held in Bangkok in support of Move Forward and Pita, with smaller protests taking place in Phuket.[25]
On 19 July, Pita was suspended from being a MP by the Constitutional Court of Thailand over his shares in the defunct broadcaster ITV he inherited from his father Pongsak Limjaroenrat. While this did not disqualify him from becoming prime minister, Parliament decided on the same day that parliamentary regulations did not allow re-nomination of a failed candidate.[26][27] Move Forward had previously stated that should it become clear it will not win, the party would instead allow coalition partner Pheu Thai, who won the second most votes in the 2023 election, to nominate their own candidate, most likely Paetongtarn Shinawatra or Srettha Thavisin.[28] After holding talks with other parties, who expressed unwillingness to support any coalition including Move Forward, Pheu Thai announced that it would break up the eight-party coalition and instead attempt to form a coalition that excludes Move Forward.[29]
On 15 August, Chaithawat Tulathon announced that the party would not vote of a Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister.[30] This was a result of Pheu Thai planning to expand its coalition to include more conservative parties, such as Bhumjaithai, and parties that supported the military junta, such as United Thai Nation and Palang Pracharat, with Move Forward stating that it was not the will of the people.[31]
On 25 August, Sripatum University and D-vote published a poll results conducted between 22 and 24 August on the topic of "If there is an election today, Which party will you vote for?". Move Forward has gained a significant amount of support by over 62.39% since Pheu Thai split with Move Forward in the government formation and formed a government with pro-junta parties.[32]
Party leadership change
On 23 September 2023 at a party general meeting, Chaithawat Tulathon was elected as the new leader of the Move Forward Party to succeed Pita Limjaroenrat, who stepped down earlier this month due to continuing uncertainty about his status as an MP. Apichart Sirisunthon was appointed as the new secretary-general, taking over from Mr Chaithawat. Additionally, Mr. Pita assumed the role of chairman in a newly formed three-member advisory group. Phicharn Chaowapattanawong, Nattawut Buaprathum, Supisan Phakdeenarunat and Sirikanya Tansakul were named deputy party leaders and Parit Watcharasindhu as the party's spokesperson.[33]
Sexual assualt scandal
Two MFP MPs, Wuttiphong Thonglour of Prachinburi province and Sirin Sanguansin of Bangkok, were found guilty of sexual assault. Bencha Saengchantra has said that the party will decide on whether to expel them from the party.[34]
Ideology and political positions
The Move Forward Party is a progressive centre-left political party. They are known for their pro-democracy platform and their aim to remove military influence in Thai politics. The party's base of support mainly consists of young and educated urbanites mostly found in Bangkok and its populous suburbs.[35][36][37]
Some of their policies include the legalisation of same-sex marriage, economic equality, social welfare programs, devolution of government, scrapping military conscription, seeking a referendum concerning the rewriting of the constitution, and reforming the monarchy.[36][38][39][40] It also aims to amend Thailand's strict lèse-majesté laws, as well as supports scrutinizing the royal budget.[22]
In 2023, the party ran on a platform emphasizing the "3Ds" of demilitarization, demonopolization, and decentralization, which Limjaroenrat said would lead to democratization, peace process, and reform.[41]
2023 Manifesto
Social policy[42]
- Allow elections for provincial governors
- Reform the Lèse-majesté laws
- Reduce military influence in politics
- Reduce bureaucracy & promote transparency
- Replace military conscription with a voluntary system
- Draft & implement a new democratic constitution
- Decentralize the central government
- Decriminalize sex work, adult toys & films
- Legalize same-sex marriage
- Promote gender equality & reduce domestic violence
- Promote LGBT+ rights
Economic policy[43]
- Raising the minimum wage to ฿450 (Adjusted with inflation every year)
- Break up monopolies and increase competition in the economy
- Encourage health/wellness & green tourism
- Promote the freedom for workers to join labor unions & collectively bargain
- Reduce tax burdens for SMEs
Welfare policy[44][45]
- Establish a modern welfare state
- Establish a 40-hour workweek (People working over 40 hr. must be paid overtime)
- Expand child benefits (฿3000 gift for newborns & ฿1200/month for each children)
- Expand maternity leave to 180 days (for both parents)
- Expand childcare services
- Increase funding for mental health services
- Promote fair employment benefits & contracts
Education policy[46]
- Reform the education system to be friendlier & safer for students
- Reform school curriculum to include more choices for students
- Encourage schools to be bilingual
- Increase funding for public education
- Allow students to have more freedom in their choices of clothes (no mandatory uniforms)
- Improve work-life balance for students
84,553[5]
