Thailand monarchy

The Constitutional Court deemed it unconstitutional to advocate a change in the country’s lese majeste law. That is a central plank of Move Forward’s platform.

Rukchanok Srinork's Move Forward Party has campaigned hard for the repeal of Article 112 of the Thai penal code, which criminalizes criticism of the monarchy.

The case against Arnon Nampa is one of at least 257 lese-majeste cases that are currently working their way through the Thai judicial system.

Pannika Wanich, a former MP for the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, is accused of "ethical breaches" over Facebook posts she made more than a decade ago.

Residents of Thailand's capital have historically come down on the side of conservatism and reaction. They now loom as a force for reform.

The King’s estranged son visits Bangkok shortly before a dramatic realignment in Thai politics. 

Despite the PM vote setback, the success of the Move Forward Party during the election has created a new dynamic in Thai politics – one that is likely to persist.

The case was a rare example of moderation in a case involving the sensitive subject of the Thai monarchy.

Even if it puts off amending the royal defamation law for now, change is probably inevitable given shifts in public attitudes toward the monarchy.

The pact enshrines many of the Move Forward Party's most ambitious reforms, but does not include its plans to amend the lese-majeste law.

In the May election, a significant number of Thais are expected to vote for a party that has spoken about the need to reform – or even abolish – the lèse-majesté law.

Courts are trying political activists for insulting the country's king, while sidestepping any discussion about what they actually said and whether it was true.