Thailand Watches as Opposition Leader Stands Trial in High-Profile Royal Insult Case
BANGKOK — Thailand’s main opposition leader and nine other MPs are among 44 defendants standing trial at the Supreme Court, accused of ethics breaches over their attempts to reform the kingdom’s strict royal insult law.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, faces the case along with other current and former politicians. The charges stem from a 2021 proposal by the party’s predecessor, Move Forward, to amend the lese-majeste law, which shields the king and his family from criticism and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years per offense.
If found guilty, the defendants could face lifetime bans from holding political office and be stripped of their right to vote for 10 years.
On Tuesday, prosecutors submitted the names of 17 witnesses to the court. The first is expected to testify on August 25. None of the MPs were present in court, according to an AFP reporter. The next hearings are scheduled for September and October.
Move Forward was dissolved by Thailand’s constitutional court in 2024, which ruled that the party’s royal reform pledge amounted to an attempt to overthrow the monarchy. Most of its members regrouped as the People’s Party, under which the 10 MPs on trial were re‑elected in February.
Natthaphong said in April that the reform effort was “never intended to undermine the democratic system under the monarchy.” He vowed to contest the case to defend MPs’ rights within the parliamentary system and ensure Thailand’s democracy “genuinely serves its people.”
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