BANGKOK — The People’s Party, the new name for the Move Forward Party, has found ways to continue their political journey as many, including Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, predicted. This is similar to when the Future Forward Party was dissolved and changed its name to the Move Forward Party in 2020.
All 143 Move Forward Party MPs have registered as members of the People’s Party with 100% participation on August 9, 2024 at the Thai Summit building, Bangkok.
Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut, 37, former deputy secretary-general of the Move Forward Party, has been elected as the leader of the People’s Party. Sarayut Jailak, former director of the Move Forward Party, has been chosen as the new party secretary. Both are close to Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the chairman of the Progressive Movement and former leader of the Future Forward Party.
Thanathorn posted a message after the Move Forward Party was ordered to dissolve by the Constitutional Court. The dissolution was due to the party promoting the amendment of Article 112, a law that criminalizes insulting the royal family, as a main policy in the 2023 election campaign. Thanathorn’s message, ‘Shrug and move on,’ conveyed an attitude of disregard for the party dissolution and a determination to move forward.
He stated that the Move Forward Party did better than the Future Forward Party, so the party that succeeds Move Forward will do even better, predicting a landslide victory in the next election in 2027.
Natthaphong, nicknamed “Teng,” who graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a degree in computer engineering, said about the People’s Party under his leadership that they will do something very simple: make politics belong to everyone, to the people. As long as they receive this support, he is ready to push himself forward, with his unmatched asset being hard work, to lead the party to election victory.
When asked if Thanathorn gave him any advice, Nattapong said that they talked a few days ago, and Thanathorn told him that if he takes this position and becomes a prime ministerial candidate, he must develop himself, see policies from many aspects, and work hard.
“I think what Thanathorn recommended is most correct. Today at this press conference, I think one of the most important things is that if I propose myself as a prime ministerial candidate, I will communicate directly. What influences me is ideology and belief, not individuals.”
He also said that regarding prime ministerial candidates, the party has learned from past lessons and will be open to proposing multiple names, but this must be discussed in the future. As for himself, he is ready to represent everyone, while the prime minister must be ready in all aspects. Currently, he is prepared to improve himself further.
The new party leader also confirmed that the People’s Party will propose a draft amendment to Article 112, noting that the court’s ruling did not prohibit amendments. He emphasized that the party will not be careless and will proceed carefully, studying all legal aspects.
‘This is not a matter of self-censorship. We propose based on principles. We are not aiming to erode or undermine any institution. According to the current constitution, we must adhere to the Constitutional Court’s ruling,’ said Natthaphong.
When asked how he would negotiate with old power groups in the future, Natthaphong said he would not trade the people’s interests or anything that would compromise the party’s ideology.
Sarayut Jailak, the new party secretary, spoke about his close relationship with Thanathorn, saying they’ve known each other for over 20 years, since being deputy of the Student Federation in 2000. They’ve been associated as friends and co-founded parties together since Future Forward.
“As friends, we meet and talk, but we understand well that each organization has its own management and working structure. The decision-making power lies with the party’s executive committee. We work with good understanding,” Sarayut said.
Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul, who was originally expected to be the new party leader, was asked if the party changed because they didn’t want to be compared to Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the female leader of the Pheu Thai Party.
She replied that the party is focusing on the next election. She has the task of working in-depth on policies, developing policies further, working behind the scenes, setting standards for the People’s Party and MPs. It’s a responsibility she willingly accepts, so she should be in a position to support the next party leader. There was no discussion about confrontation or avoiding confrontation with anyone.
The Move Forward Party previously made exciting history when it won the 2023 election with the highest number of MPs, 151 seats, causing the Pheu Thai Party, which had been dissolved twice, to lose for the first time, with a difference of 10 seats.
However, Pheu Thai was able to form a coalition government with parties that had previously supported the military. A crucial factor in this alliance was Pheu Thai’s agreement not to pursue any amendments to Article 112, unlike the Move Forward Party’s stance.
The breaking of the old alliance between Pheu Thai and Move Forward has led supporters of both parties to engage in ongoing political debates. Many cases reflect hate speech rather than rational discourse.
Move Forward supporters accuse Pheu Thai of being treacherous and compromising with old power groups merely to benefit the Shinawatra family.
Pheu Thai supporters retort that the Move Forward Party is “Salim Phase 2,” referring to middle-class groups who consider themselves better, more capable, and more progressive than others, who once came out to support the military’s seizure of power from Yingluck Shinawatra’s government.
This resentment was also expressed on the day Move Forward was ordered to dissolve. Although Chaturon Chaisang, a Pheu Thai MP, posted sympathetic comments and encouraged Move Forward, he was one of those who faced angry reactions from Move Forward supporters.
As the People’s Party unveiled its new logo, Move Forward opponents mockingly pointed out that the party’s logo plagiarized a Japanese energy drink.
Besides the logo, the declaration of the People’s Party political ideology is : Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, which are regarded as the most famous slogan of the French Revolution.
The party states: The People’s Party adheres to the democratic system with the King as Head of State, the rule of law, human dignity, human rights, political, economic, and social equality, decentralization of governance, gender diversity, cultural diversity, free market economy, free and fair competition without monopolies, sustainable development with consideration for natural resources and environmental impacts, welfare system creation, and creating opportunities for humans to live with dignity and quality from birth to death.
The People’s Party believes in the possibility of a new world, new society, and new politics. They affirm the principle that sovereign power belongs to the people, and the use of state power must be related to and connected with the people.
In addition, the disbanded Move Forward Party changed its name and logo on Friday, to that of the People’s Party on social media. The first paragraph of its manifesto partly stated: “The sacred and most enduring institution in the democratic political system is the people who hold sovereign power.”
This expression of identity by the People’s Party, or the former Move Forward Party and former Future Forward Party, should reassure party supporters that the party remains unchanged. However, it raises questions about whether the People’s Party can move forward on a path that doesn’t repeat past experiences of being targeted, and how it will find political allies.
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