Party Dissolution, Ethics Violations, and Judicial Overreach in Thailand: Evolution and Consequences: October 31, 2024 from 4:00pm HST
THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME
About the Webinar
On 7 August, Thailand’s Constitutional Court unanimously voted to dissolve the Move Forward Party and ban its executives for 10 years, ruling that the party’s efforts to amend the country’s lèse-majesté law, Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, constituted an attempt to undermine Thailand’s democratic system with the King as head of state. Just one week later, the same court ruled to dismiss Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for nominating Thaksin Shinawatra’s former lawyer and ex-convict, Pichit Chuenban, as a cabinet minister—an act the court deemed a clear indication of Srettha’s lack of honesty and integrity, as well as a serious breach of ethical standards, warranting his removal from office.
This webinar will explore what these two rulings reveal about the nature and evolution of judicialized politics in Thailand. It will examine whether the dissolution of Move Forward reflects a continuation of past patterns or signals a more troubling shift in the use of judicial power to curtail elected forces and weaken political parties. Additionally, the webinar will trace the evolution of moral politics and the role of ethical standards in scrutinizing elected leaders and reinforcing the concept of rule by the “good people.” Finally, it will consider the broader implications of judicial overreach for the future of Thai democracy.
About the Speaker
Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. He holds a Ph.D. in law from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. His dissertation focuses on Buddhist constitutionalism in Thai legal system. He has published widely in a field of Thai constitutional law, constitutional politics, judicial review, and Buddhism and constitutional law.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. To join us, please register here to receive your unique link.
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