NACC rules against 44 ex-Move Forward MPs

2026-02-09 - 05:26

BANGKOK — 9 February 2026, Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has ruled that 44 former lawmakers from the dissolved Move Forward Party committed serious ethical violations over their role in proposing amendments to the Criminal Code’s Section 112, the lese-majeste law. The commission voted to substantiate the case against the former MPs, who were accused of breaching or failing to comply with severe ethical standards after jointly signing a bill to amend Section 112. The case will now be forwarded to the Supreme Court for further proceedings. If the Supreme Court accepts the case for trial, any accused who currently hold political office would be required to immediately suspend their duties, according to officials familiar with the process. All 44 individuals are now members of the People’s Party, following the dissolution of Move Forward. Some of those accused are former Move Forward executives who have already been stripped of their political rights by a Constitutional Court ruling. The NACC said it would compile the case file and submit it to the Supreme Court, which will take time to review the evidence before deciding whether to accept the case. The case stems from a complaint filed with the NACC accusing the 44 former MPs of intentionally violating, or failing to comply with, serious ethical standards by proposing amendments to Section 112 of the Criminal Code. The controversy dates back to February 2021, when Pita Limjaroenrat, then leader of the Move Forward Party, submitted a package of bills to parliament signed by 44 party MPs. The proposals included legislation to protect freedom of expression and rights in the justice process, as well as amendments to Section 112. The move sparked widespread public debate, drawing both support and opposition. In the general election held on 14 May 2023, Move Forward won 151 seats, the most of any party. Pita, the party’s prime ministerial candidate at the time, ultimately failed to secure