Key Point: The Thai Supreme Court has accepted a petition to try 44 current and former opposition lawmakers for ethics violations tied to a 2021 bid to amend the lese‑majesté law. The trial is set to begin on June 30. If convicted, the defendants could face lifetime bans from public office, though the court has not suspended the 10 sitting lawmakers named in the case. The move is the latest in a series of legal actions that have constrained Thailand's liberal opposition since the 2023 election.
Thai Supreme Court Greenlights Ethics Trial of 44 Opposition Lawmakers Over Lese‑Majeste Amendments
A general view of the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, June 13, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
Thailand's Supreme Court on Friday accepted a petition to try 44 current and former opposition lawmakers on ethics charges stemming from their 2021 attempt to amend the country's lese‑majesté law, which protects the monarchy from criticism.
The group, which includes serving and former members of the progressive People's Party and its dissolved predecessor Move Forward, is due to stand trial beginning on June 30. If convicted, the defendants could face a lifetime ban from holding public office.
In a court statement, judges said they would not suspend the 10 sitting lawmakers named in the petition while the proceedings move forward.
Background and Legal Context
Thailand's lese‑majesté statute is among the world's strictest, carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison per offense. Human rights groups and opposition figures have long argued the law has been used to silence dissent and curb political opposition; Move Forward had proposed amendments on those grounds.
Earlier court rulings in 2024 found Move Forward's campaign to reform the law unconstitutional and harmful to the democratic order. The party was subsequently dissolved by the courts, and many of its former members regrouped under the People's Party banner.
Political Implications
The acceptance of the petition is the latest legal setback for Thailand's liberal, anti‑establishment opposition. The movement has faced multiple adverse rulings since the 2023 general election and was prevented from forming a government despite strong voter support. In February's election, the People's Party finished second to Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party.
What This Means: The trial could reshape the prospects of Thailand's reformed opposition parties and will be watched closely by domestic and international observers concerned about political freedoms and the rule of law.
Named among the 44 defendants are People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul. Proceedings beginning on June 30 will test how the judiciary balances ethics rules, criminal statutes, and political rights in a polarized environment.
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